Minister of Natural Resources Nancy Tembo has lamented that the National Clean-Up day initiative has not gained much momentum to keep the surroundings clean, and has since urged Malawians to embrace the initiative.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lilongwe yesterday aimed at announcing Malawi’s participation in the World Clean-Up Day to being observed today, Tembo stressed that the initiative has, to some extent, been heavily affected by impact of Covid-19.
the National Clean-Up Campaign
But Tembo was hopeful that Covid-19 will ease soon and urged everyone to be taking part in the exercise to ensure clean surroundings.
She expressed worry that people have become used to littered surroundings.
“We should embrace clean-ups and it should be become a lifestyle. This is the country that we have and we should ensure that we take part in ensuring that the surroundings are clean,” said Tembo
Tembo also observed that cities, especially Lilongwe and Blantyre, are producing so much waste which people do not properly manage.
Lilongwe City Council director of administration Mussa Mwale acknowledged that the city is producing a lot of waste, assuring that the council has a number of strategies to manage waste.
“We want to partner with the private sector in waste management. Already, we have roped in banks which have been installing bins along the streets,” said Mwale.
President Lazarus Chakwera launched the National Clean-Up Day on November 11 2020. The day is observed every second Friday of the month. Local councils, government departments and other stakeholders are encouraged to lead the campaigns.
