LINDA SOKO TEMBO writes
@SunZambian
GOVRNMENT has acknowledged the environmental challenges facing Zambia which include deforestation land degradation and has committed to environmental management, Deputy Secretary to the cabinet Christopher Mvunga has said.
Mr Mvunga said Zambian’s population comprised young people and the increase in population would continue to put pressure on the economy to support their livelihood and demand for basic social services such education, health care, housing water and sanitation among others.
He was speaking at the presentation of the 2019 Environment and Climate change media awards on Friday evening meant to recognize excellence in media reporting that give prominence to environment and climate change issues.
Mr Mvunga said water demand for domestic and industrial use had increased exerting more pressure while supply has remained the same.
He said there was need to safeguard Zambia’s head waters to regulate developmental activities in sensitive water catchment areas.
Mr Mvunga said it was for this reason that government remained committed to protecting the environment and natural resources through the national constitution and subsidiary environmental regulation.
Meanwhile Permanent Secretary, in the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection, ED Chomba encouraged Zambians to look after the environment in a better way than they did before.
Bishop Chomba said anybody who did not take care of the environment had missed a mark of making sure that they looked after their environment had committed sin.
“We need to balance environmental management together with modern day industrialization,” he said.
