16 Sep 2018

First Lady Neo Masisi on September 15 embarked on an environment clean-up campaign at the invitation of Total Botswana, where she participated in litter picking at Gaborone West Industrial site.

Speaking after picking waste at the Gaborone West industrial site, the First Lady thanked the petroleum company for coming up with an initiative which sought to raise environmental awareness and managing waste materials in ways that were environmentally friendly.

Ms Masisi noted that Total Botswana waste management initiative was in line with government strategies, policies and legislation.

She said the company’s initiative added value to sustainable waste management targeted at preventing and controlling environmental pollution.

Such laws and policies, Lady Masisi posited, included the Atmospheric Prevention Act of 1977, the Waste Management Act of 1998, the Waste Management Strategy of 1998, the Waste Water and Sanitation Policy of 2001 as well as the National Master Plan for Wastewater and Sanitation of 2003.

However, she said, generally response to such policies had so far been limited to large scale and end of pipe treatment technologies such as landfill systems, waste incinerators and centralised wastewater treatment facilities in urban centres and some of the major villages across the country.

Thus, she said it was against such backdrop that she appreciated Total Botswana for roping in the community to drill it on issues of waste management and  engage in litter picking.

“As humans we have been living beyond the sustainable capacity of the planet for a very long time and therefore we have to find tangible ways and means of living our lives in a manner that does not contribute to the environmental challenges that we are facing such as global warming, climate change, desertification, depletion and destruction of the habitat and biodiversity resources,” she said.

Further, Ms Masisi reiterated that such challenges called for adoption of fresh thinking approach and seeing waste as a resource for wealth.

She noted that the theme for World Environment Day and Earth Day this year was ‘Beat Plastic Pollution and End Plastic Pollution,’ which saw many countries this year introducing the plastic ban as a means of reducing pollution from plastic waste.

She stated that Botswana was not left behind as she had also taken a decision to ban distribution, importation and manufacturing of plastics for use in the country with effect from November 1.

During the event, the First Lady also officially opened the waste management stations, which comprised of separately labelled waste bins at Tshwaragano Primary School in Old Naledi, Therisanyo Primary School and St Joseph’s schools, which have been adopted by the oil company.

Handing over the waste stations to the schools, Total Botswana managing director, Mr Diego Mtshali said it was important for students to dispose of waste materials that they used on a daily basis as per category.

He said that the initiative by Total Botswana was meant to instill environmental consciousness on the students from a tender age to teach them the importance of separating waste so that it could be reused, reduced and recycled.

South East regional principal education officer, Mr Daniel Jenamiso appreciated Total Botswana for the initiative.

He stated that the Ministry of Basic Education aimed to achieve sound education in a conducive learning environment.

Thus, he said for that to materialise, it was pertinent for the environment to be kept clean and healthy for the students, teachers and parents.

He noted that the ministry took a deliberate move to infuse environmental education in the school curriculum to sensitise the student body at elementary levels on the importance of environmental cleanliness.

For his part, Total Botswana depot manager, Mr Patrick Thedi said the initiative to teach students and erect waste stations in the schools came upon realisation that companies tended to neglect the environmental impact issues.

Therefore, he said as a company in the energy sector and directly affecting the environment they made sure to adopt safe and secure environmental friendly practices to avoid any oil leakages to Gaborone Dam.

“We are situated next to a damn and we have 17 monitoring points to check that in case our bulk oil tanks leak we will be able to pick it before the situation hits catastrophic levels,” he said. ENDS