NGO engages youths in beach clean-up campaign
A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Beach and Underwater Clean Up (BUC), has engaged Karonga youths on a thin plastic clean-up exercise along the beaches of Lake Malawi in Karonga district.
Speaking last week during the launch of the campaign at Blue Chambers Beach, BUC executive director Innocent Mjumira said people should stop dumping plastics along the shores of Lake Malawi.
He also said Karonga District Council should put measures to deal with people who litter plastics along the lakeshore.
“In short, people should start using locally made baskets. In that way, we will not have thin plastics polluting our beautiful lake, thereby destroying the ecosystem,” said Mjumira.
He, therefore, advised the youth to take a leading role in ensuring that the use of plastics is minimised.
On his part, Karonga district environmental officer Khumbo Mbeye commended BCU for the initiative, saying protecting the lake was everyone’s responsibility.
“Government alone cannot win the battle against plastics. We need other stakeholders such as NGOs and manufacturers to assist,” he said. A Form Two student from Karonga Community Day Secondary School Juliet Mwanyongo said she was happy to be part of the clean-up exercise.