10 Sep 2018

Managing director of Horizon Investment Mr Thabologo Chingapane has implored residents of Francistown to play an active role in cleaning the environment for healthy living.

Mr Chingapane said this at the official commemoration of Clean-up the World campaign  in Francistown recently.

He explained that practising cleanness was one way through which the environment could be conserved.

He encouraged residents to do away with some negative practices such as littering along walk ways and road sides, illegal dumping of waste on the outskirts of the city as well as the indiscriminate disposal of garden waste.

He said if such practices were stopped, the city of Francistown would be one of the cleanest areas in the country, explaining further that careless disposal of waste could pose a health hazard and  could also lead to air pollution.

He appealed to residents to change their attitude and behaviour towards the environment.

Mr Chingapane also informed residents that government had taken a decision to ban the use of plastic carrier bags and flat bags effective December 1, 2018.

He explained further that the banning of plastics was because they caused many problems of animals dying from being choked by plastic, adding that plastics were not biodegradable and that once deposited in the soil, they stayed in the environment for a long period.

Earlier in his remarks, Tati Town Customary Court president Kgosi Gafiwe Kediseng expressed concern over the untidiness of some places around the city, especially near the old Francistown stadium.

He warned against the practice of littering around the city, explaining that it was a crime punishable by law, and encouraged residents to always keep their environment clean, emphasising that doing so was an indication that they respected themselves as cleanness began at home.

Kgosi Kediseng further called upon residents to create awareness and mobilise communities to put in place practices that could lead to environmental conservation.

Meanwhile, Francistown wards competed for the position of the cleanest ward in the city and  Selolwe emerged victorious with Kanana and Central coming in second and third positions respectively. END