LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Barely four years after Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal in August 2019 ordered the government to implement the ban, thin plastics are available on the market that Malawians still using them despite the ban.
This has prompted National Youth Network on Climate Change (NYNCC) demanding Malawi authorities from ban enforcement as today, June 5, 2023 is World Environment Day commemoration.
This year commemoration is under the theme, “#Beat Plastic Pollution”. But this is mere rhetoric Malawi authorities have had over the years.
NYCNCC’ demand also comes barely years after Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining promised to have developed a strategy guiding enforcement of a ban on thin plastics in the country.
But nothing on the ground has happened on the ban enforcement.
NYCNCC National Coordinator Dominic Nyasulu told The Maravi Post that Malawi authorities must expedite thin plastic ban enforcement.
Nyasulu was speaking on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at SOS Children Village Hall in the capital Lilongwe when NYCNCC engaged children and young people on beat plastic and water pollution as part of World Environment Day, that falls yearly on June 5.
The young people were drawn from primary and secondary schools were engaged in discussions, debates, quiz on thin plastic and pollution.
Under the main topic during the dialogue, “Why work with children and young people in climate change and environmental governance,” participants outlined another environmental conservation, including tree planting, by-laws against thin plastic usage.
Participants were drawn from SOS Children Village Primary School, Chinsapo Secondary School, Mbidzi Secondary School, Biwi LEA Primary School, Crazimatic High School, and among others.Nyasulu observes that the nation is this year challenged to address think plastics usage through practical actions not lip services from authorities.
He said children and young people engagement on thin plastics aimed at instilling confidence in future leaders on environmental and natural resources conservation.
“We can’t keep talking against thin plastics usage when we have sleepy authorities on the law enforcement. We understand that thin plastics ban is still in court.
“This is why we need authorities from expediting the matter as soon as possible. We are a nation full of talking not doers,” dares Nyasulu.
He added, “We engaged young people and children for their voices to be heard on how thin plastics usage has affected them directly and indirectly for authorities to take serious action on the ban enforcement hence the appeal”.
“NYNCC believes that if children are engaged at early stage on environmental conservation, the nation stands better of addressing the effects of climate”.
In 2015, Malawi government followed the efforts of some neighboring countries, including pioneer Rwanda, in tackling the immense pollution resulting from plastic waste and imposed a ban on thin plastic bags.
