Tanzania President Magufuli shops with basket after plastic bag ban

Tanzania President Magufuli shops with basket after plastic bag ban

Tanzanian President John Magufuli this week made a surprise visit to a fish market sporting a wicker basket in a move to support a new plastic bag ban.

It is unusual for a man to carry a shopping basket in Tanzania, especially someone of the president’s status.

BBC understands that Magufuli’s  defiance of convention is likely to give more weight to the ban that came into effect on Saturday.

Those found with plastic bags now face fines of up to $87 (£68) or up to seven days in jail, local media reports.

For anyone caught manufacturing or importing plastic bags, the fine could be US$430,000 or up to two years in prison.

Tanzania is one of more than 30 African countries to have brought in a ban on single-use plastic.

Travellers arriving in Tanzania – a tourist hotspot – are now being asked to surrender plastic bags at the airport.

Lloyd M’bwana

I’m a Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resource (LUANAR)’s Environmental Science graduate (Malawi) and UK’s ICM Journalism and Media studies scholar. Also University of Malawi (UNIMA) Library Science Scholar. I have been The Malawi Country Manager and duty editor for the Maravi Post since 2019. My duty editor’s job is to ensure that the news is covered properly, that it is delivered on time, and that it is created to the standards set out in the editorial guidelines of the Maravi Post.