By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
GOVERNMENT is considering putting in place laws that will penalise littering in an effort to promote environmental sustainability.
The legislation will also take into consideration monitoring of plastic production from the manufacturer to distribution stages.
Green and Environment Minister Collins Nzovu has stated that there is need for behavioural change among citizens in managing garbage waste in the country.
Mr Nzovu said this at the donation of various materials from cooperating partners ahead of World Environment Day, which falls today.
“We are looking at legislation, people must be more responsible, producers must be more responsible. We will need to look at the product from the time it is being manufactured to the time its use expires. So the full cycle must be looked at.
“But also, we want to ensure that those who litter anyhow are punished also. Other than advocacy and communication to ensure Zambians are brought on board, we need to punish would-be repeat offenders. So the law will be strengthened as well,” he said.
Mr Nzovu emphasised the need for citizens to be responsible for their own waste by avoiding throwing plastic pollution in the street.
“We need behavioural change and be responsible for our own garbage. We need to be responsible with the garbage round us,” he said.
At the same function, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Zambia Country Director, Nachilala Nkombo called for the regulation of plastic manufacturing.
Ms Nkombo said WWF believed that there were too many plastics around the country, thus the need for regulation.
She also called for sustainable management of the environment by eliminating the use of plastic.
Ms Nkombo emphasised the need for a well-managed way of plastic manufacturing.
“We need to rethink the use of plastic and get rid of them. We need to find opportunities for recycling plastic and phasing out the use of plastic. Plastic pollution has negative effects to life. It is a hazard to human life,” she said.
One of the cooperating partners, Standard Chartered Bank Zambia donated waste bins worth K40, 000.
