A local non-governmental organisation, Go Green Save Environment, says the country needs to embrace clean and greener sources of energy as a way of conserving the environment.
Go Green Save Environment operations director Edward Msumba made the call on Friday during a Climate Strike march from Nkhata Bay Town to Nkhata Bay district commissioner’s (DC) office under the theme Stop Fossil Usage.
“We want to lobby government and everyone in authority to start finding alternatives to fossil fuel,” he said.
Msumba said it was everyone’s responsibility to ensure that the environment is conserved.
“Everyone needs to get involved in climate issues. That’s why we are marching to raise awareness against fossil usage because we need to have a clean environment,” he said.
One of the learners from Happy Day Private Primary School, Diana Kawonga, who took part in the march, said she participated in the march to raise awareness among fellow youths so that they take part in conserving the environment.
She appealed to communities to refrain from cutting down trees.
In his remarks, Traditional Authority Mkumbira condemned communities that destroy the environment, saying Nkhata Bay needs to reclaim its lost glory in environmental conservation.
“We have destroyed our district with plastics, cutting down of trees anyhow and even dumping of waste anyhow,” he said.
The chief said the trend is a barrier to tourism efforts that would lead to loss of forex.
Nkhata Bay (DC) Rodney Simwaka noted with concern the lost glory of green cover which the district used to cherish.
The march, sponsored by Malawi Creation Care Network and 350.org, was held as part of the global climate strike week which is celebrated from September 20 to 27.
