The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
GOVERNMENT has urged the people of Manicaland to minimise pollution and maximise the recycling of plastic materials.
Defence and War Veteran Affairs Minister, Honourable Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said by adopting this model, locals can contribute to environmental sustainability and economic prosperity.
In a speech read on her behalf by Director of Infrastructure Planning and Environmental Management in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Mr Timothy Rukuni during a clean-up campaign at Hauna Growth Point in Honde Valley, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said a clean environment and a strong economy are interdependent and mutually beneficial.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said to properly manage plastic waste, Government has intensified collaborations and engagements with various partners.
“Plastic pollution is a serious threat to the environment and the health of the people of Zimbabwe. To tackle this problem, we need to work together and support innovative solutions that can prevent and reduce plastic waste. This requires funding from the Government, private sector and civil society.
“The national clean-up campaign provides an opportunity to bring together all sectors, including waste generators, users, collectors so that we have a common consensus in managing plastic pollution,” she said.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri also said Government is engaging retailers, plastic manufacturers and recyclers to promote proper ways of waste management.
“The thrust is to engage waste collectors with a view of formalising them, capacitating communities and establishing relationships with institutions for endless collection of recyclables,” she said.
Meanwhile, speaking during World Environment Day commemorations early this week, Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Raphael Faranisi said Government is stepping up efforts to push the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to create a circular economy that reduces and recycles plastic more sustainably.
World Environment Day was commemorated on Monday.
The EPR aims to reduce the environmental and economic burdens of plastic waste management for municipalities by extending producer responsibility to the end-of-life stage.
It holds producers responsible for the collection and recycling of specified volumes of plastic that they produce and place into the market.
Ambassador Faranisi said promoting sustainable consumption and production practices across the entire plastic value chain will address plastic pollution.
“In Zimbabwe, only 10 percent of the waste generated is being recycled and this calls for more to be done. Moreover, of the total waste generated in Zimbabwe, 18 percent is plastic waste, hence the call to act to reduce plastic pollution.
“We should always introspect on our own behaviour as a country and find lasting solutions to plastic pollution. Let us take heed of Government’s calls to fight plastic pollution and invest in innovative ways to stop this menace,” he said.
Ambassador Faranisi called on local authorities to improve on their waste management systems.
“We urgently need appropriate infrastructure that receives and processes plastic waste and ensure its reusage. There is also need for local authorities to engage consumers and other key stakeholders in addressing plastic pollution to inspire behavioural change,” he said.
To date, the province has witnessed 4 108 clean-up campaigns, with more than 40 000 people taking part.
