04 Feb 2019

Awareness on environmental and climate change is crucial as it sensitises the community on issues affecting the environment, says Botswana Climate Change Network coordinator and founder, Ms Tracy Sonny.

She said this during the commemoration of World Wetlands Day in Sikwane on February 1.

She said it was important for society to be well informed and educated on environmental issues and policies.

“If society is well informed and educated, they can be able to reduce activities that are harmful to the environment,” she said.

Ms Sonny said the environment was affected by different factors such as floods and harsh weather conditions which lead to climate change.

She said her office raised awareness on environmental issues and trained personnel to instil guidelines of climate change to society.

She said they have joined hands with government to maintain a clean environment and to ensure that environmental policies were adhered to.

She encouraged Sikwane residents and stakeholders to continue keeping the village clean as it was one of the cleanest villages in the district.

Ms Sonny said the Madikwe River was useful to residents of Sikwane and other surrounding villages hence the need for residents to protect it.

“Stakeholders should join hands in keeping the river clean, and ensuring that those who used it unlawfully were brought to book,” she said.

Kgosi Seabelo Pilane of Sikwane applauded Botswana Climate Change Network for commemorating the wetland day in his village, saying it would encourage residents to keep their environment clean at all times.

He said it was important to be informed on issues of climate change and the environment, and said it would motivate residents to be engaged during clean-up campaigns.

However, Kgosi Pilane was not impressed with how people used the Madikwe River.

He said people undertook different activities at the river such as picnics and rituals that were harmful to the environment.

He said the waste that was being left by people at the river made it look untidy, and that it polluted the water and surroundings thus making it unsafe and harmful.

Sikwane Village Development Committee chairperson, Ms Kgomotso Radibe said the intention was to develop the Madikwe River.

She said one of the projects that were underway was litter picking to ensure they kept the river and its surroundings clean at all times.

She added that they have engaged the Mmathubudukwane Land Board to identify beacons for fencing.

Ms Radibe further said they wanted to make the river a camping site, picnic and botanical garden as a way to generate funds for VDC projects in the village.

She encouraged residents to work hand-in-hand with them to find ways to develop the village through natural resources surrounding them.

The commemoration was held under the theme: Wetland and climate change. ENDS