The Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) in the Ministry of energy, mines and natural resources is planning to have a position paper aimed at banning the general public in using trees for burning bricks as catastrophic measure in addressing environmental degradation.
The development comes after the same department issued a ban statement to the general public on the use of plastic bags which many manufacturing companies and vendors protest despite several calls to abide by it.
This was disclosed during the panel discussion which Center for Environmental Policy and Advocacy (CEPA) organized in the capital Lilongwe on Thursday a head of World Environmental Day which falls on June 5.
The panel discussions attracted officials from Department of Disaster Management Affairs, Environmental Affairs, forestry, Civil Society Organisation (CSOs), the media and Members of Parliament (MPs) which aimed at unpacking and enlightening the public on current situation of disaster, efforts to curb contributing factors and the role of the public in sustainable use of natural resources.
In an exclusive interview with The Maravi Post, Tawonga Mbale, Acting Director of Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) disclosed that all was set to have a position paper in banning the general public in using burnt bricks but rather cemented bricks which will reduce the rate of deforestation.
Mbale said the ban will be in phases based on the level group of people using burnt bricks for various infrastructure development saying later the ban would spread across the nation.
“Burning of charcoal, bricks contribute to environmental degradation whose adverse effects are what we just witnessed as a country, namely floods, dry-spells and hail storms. In a bid to respond to that, the department is planning to issue a statement to the general public in banning them using burnt bricks rather those made of cement.
“This will be in phases of implementation starting with those in big projects such as schools, hotels, churches, offices then later spreading to people’s houses so that the process should be gradual while we are looking into other modalities of sustaining the plan”, explains Mbale.
Later, The Maravi Post court up with Werani Chilenga, Chairperson for Malawi’s Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Management who agreed with the plan and appealed to government to reduce further the prices of cement that the general public were able to buy the commodity.
“The proposal is in right order which has been long overdue after we are implementing plastic ban. Therefore, for proper implementation and sustainability of such order, government should also reduce further the prices of cement as a vital commodity in this entire plan otherwise it will be unrealistic to issue such a ban when cement price is still high”, urges Chilenga.
World Environmental Day (WED) was established in 1972 by United Nations General Assembly which is celebrated yearly on June 5 aimed at raising global awareness to take positive environmental action to protect nature and the planet earth and also stimulating the political attention and action in enhancing the personal commitment to environmental preservation.
With this year’s theme, “Seven billion dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care”, encourages resource efficiency and sustainable consumption and production in the context of the planet’s regenerative capacity.
Malawi’s WED will be commemorated in Balaka district whose year’s theme is, “Prevent manmade disaster. Use natural resources sustainable”, which is in line with 2014-2015 season as the nation experienced unprecedented food which resulted into loss of lives and properties in over 15 districts.
