By Francis Chipalo
Itezhi tezhi member of parliament Twaambo Mutinta has challenged young people to use social media platforms by raising awareness on plastic pollution.
And Mutinta who is co – chairperson of the Zambian parliamentary caucus on environment and climate change says environmental protection is not a luxury, but a legislative priority.
Speaking at the world environment day commemoration in Lusaka, Thursday morning, Mutinta stated that the country has taken several steps, including the enforcement of environmental management (extended producer responsibility) of regulations of 2018, which seek to hold producers and importers accountable for the lifecycle of plastic products.
“Through this regulation, businesses are being called upon to redesign the packaging, take responsibility for plastic waste, and invest in recycling and waste reduction efforts,”Mutinta said.
The parliamentarian has however said that enforcement must and should go hand in hand with community awareness, innovation, and stakeholder collaboration.
“We cannot legislate change from parliament alone, but we need action from every household, school, market stall and community as a whole,” he said.
Mutinta observed that the greatest struggle in addressing plastic pollution is lack of action, further emphasizing the need to hold producers accountable.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker said the youth are the change markers on the agenda of addressing plastic pollution in the country.
He urged the youth to take advantage of various social media platforms they daily spend time on to raise awareness on plastic pollution.
“You are not too young to lead, whether by organizing clean – up campaigns, innovating alternative packaging, or using social media to raise awareness. You have the power, use it,” Mutinta added.
Speaking at the same event, Shiwang’andu Member of Parliament Stephen Kampyongo, who is also a co – chairperson of the parliamentary caucus on environmental protection said there is need to create laws that are acceptable by society.
Kampyongo said, for plastic pollution to be addressed effectively, society needs laws which are enforceable and that the country should invest in continuous sensitization campaigns aimed at promoting a change of mindset, words echoed by Binwell Mpundu, the MP for Nkana.
Mpundu who also founder for Movement for Good Governance (a youth driven movement) – urged young people to rise to the occasion and begin championing messages on plastic pollution.
Speaking earlier on, Strengthening Respect for Environmental Rights in Zambia and Hivos project manager, Vuyo Maphango highlighted the harm and damage plastic pollution has on the environment.
With millions of tons of plastic waste being carelessly being disposed off in the public, Maphango called for concerted effort in addressing plastic pollution.
Zambia has today joined the rest of the globe in commemorating world environment day under the theme “beating plastic pollution”.
The event was also attended by environmentalists and students from higher learning institutions as well as some MPs.