Planet – Plastic – Pollution

In Zimbabwe environmental pollution has been raised on several occasions. Both companies and individuals have been alleged to be perpetrators. With air pollution cited most due to its greenhouse gases effects on the ozone layer and consequently climate change, many efforts have been put in that area. Amidst all commendable efforts, Onita Sibanda (OS) speaks to Honourable Alwande Sigabade Moyo (ASM), the Junior Minister of Environment, Tourism, Climate and Wildlife on the effects of plastic pollution to the planet.

OS: Welcome to the Weekly Guest at Besana a Discussion on Children issues. We host guests from various fields across Zimbabwe and the globe. My name is Onita Sibanda and I am your host. Today’s topic is, Planet, Plastic, Pollution.

Allow me to take this opportunity to welcome our esteemed guest Hon. Alwande Moyo please go ahead and introduce yourself.

ASM: My name is Alwande Sigabade Moyo. I serve as the Junior Senator for Khumalo Constituency in Bulawayo, koNtuthu ziyathunqa. I’m also part of the Junior Presidium as the Junior Minister of Environment, Tourism, Climate and Wildlife. I’m a Sixth-form student at Christian Brothers College, majoring in the department of Humanities. Added to this, I’m a Justice Desk Africa Youth Ambassador and the incumbent Scripture Union Provincial President.

OS: Thank you for the introduction Honourable. We are happy to have you on the show. ⁠What is your role as the Junior Minister of Environment, whom do you report to and what’s your relationship with the parent ministry?

ASM: Mine is a very simple task. My mandate is governed by my line ministry’s mission and vision. I will divide my role and mandate into four key pillars

1. Develop, implement and monitor policies, strategies, plans and legislation on environment and natural resources for sustainable development.
2. To promote and facilitate investments in the Tourism sector including investment incentives designed to stimulate the production capacity of the Tourism Industry and including sector specific special economic zones.
3. To Provide leadership in the advocacy, education, training and awareness of environment and natural resources issues, in particular advocacy spearheaded by the youth.
4. To provide technical advice and guidance to all stakeholders on environment, natural resources and tourism issues; especially with my line Ministry. So l will be in charge of airing views and cries of the demographic youth dividend when it comes to the tourism sector, when it comes to environmental concerns etc.

Junior Parliament is an organ serving under The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training. I report to my Child President who is our face as Junior Parliamentarians. He is the one who is able to advocate for youth issues at the highest level. I also have direct access to my senior Minister, Hon. Sithembiso Nyoni. I work closely with my parent ministry. I know the Minister, Deputy Minister and the Permanent secretary very well and sometimes I advocate for issues to do with the environment directly. An example is the current ‘Litter’ crisis that is existent in my great city, Bulawayo. I wrote a petition and emailed it to the Minister who responded positively

OS: I believe you have inspired many young people. ⁠ Kindly link the three for our audience to understand the threats and action needed: Planet – Plastic- Pollution.

ASM: 12 million tonnes of plastic find its way into the ocean every single year. This is the sad reality of today’s world. We must be cognizant of the fact that plastic takes thousands of years to degrade. Now, we as Zimbabwe are already feeling the threats and effects of plastic pollution. Some of the effects include the choking of marine life eventually leading to extinction of unique marine creatures. Even our birds are dying in their thousands.

Plastic waste has toxic chemicals which contaminate ground water and in our context as Zimbabwe, we suffer from water rationing. Imagine if the little water we have left being contaminated by the plastic we consume. Added to this, plastic pollution also translates to visual pollution. Slowly but surely we are chasing away tourists and potential investors because of our littering and bad habits of waste disposal. These are just a few of the threats posed by plastic pollution.

When it comes to an action plan, let us go back to the drawing board and come up with the most suitable and sustainable method of tackling this crisis within our country. My action plan is very simple 1) Reduce plastic 2) Reuse plastic 3) Recycle plastic 4) Educate 5) Take initiative and act now. Let us move away from this blame game and take accountability. The planet is ours and let us live by the following words: our collective existence is at risk.

OS: Thank you for elaborating on that Hon. I believe the audience is following. I will go to my next question. What are the effects of plastic pollution on the environment?

ASM: People tend to overlook the fact that the term environment encompasses a number of aspect. The term is very broad. Some of the effects include the

1. Choking of animals leading to death
2. Damaging of soils leading to soil exhaustion and thin soils where farming cannot take place
3. Contamination of ground water
4. Pollution of our oceans, in the process disturbing patterns of marine life

OS: Which measures or interventions do you think can help in reducing or ending plastic pollution in Zimbabwe?

ASM: Intervention by Senior government officials in terms of declaring the litter crisis a state of national disaster. We have managed to draw up our own youthful version of the National Development Strategy (NDS) which emphasises on caring for the environment and natural resources. Guided by this mini NDS, we as the junior cabinet have embarked on an extensive campaign in conjunction with Environmental Management Agency. This programme called Catch Them Young is targeting primary and secondary schools and it is an awareness, advocacy and action programme. It has been successful and implemented throughout the country.

Catch Them Young should visit schools more often. Litter issue is a mind-set issue and we should indeed mould these brains at a younger stage. Added to this, Junior Cabinet has made it a point to be part of the National Clean-up session every First Friday of the month and we implore all Zimbabweans to join us. Together we can!

OS: Good initiative! This also goes back to companies; how can they reduce the impact of plastic on the environment?

ASM: Actually, the private sector and corporation discard the most plastic waste. It is also their responsibility to sponsor programmes for example Catch Them Young to help reduce waste on our streets instead of focusing of sponsoring marathons. Added to this, companies should be fined for every 10 tons of waste they discard into our environment. A system which i call the Polluter Payer Principle. Heading in that direction will go a long way in actually holding polluters accountable

OS: Thank you! In most town centres there is short of refuse bins and people end up littering, what’s your message to the peoples and to the local authorities?

ASM: To the people, littering is a habit that has ravaged our great towns and cities. So, let us take pride in our country and stop littering. Authorities should heed the cries of the masses and actually safeguard our well-being through providing adequate bins throughout the country

OS: Do we have any policy on plastic pollution? Kindly share, if not then tell us what must be done

ASM: Our Constitution provides for the Environmental Management Act of 2010 which zeroes in on plastic consumption and disposal. It prohibits use of plastics with a wall thickness less than 30 micrometres and also bans use of non biodegradable plastic. However, I strongly feel like we should enact more laws which curb usage of plastic.

 OS: Thank you! What do you think is the role of The Besana Mail in this issue?

ASM: Your role as a media outlet and as part of communication discourse is to educate and inform Zimbabweans in particular and Africans in general on ills of littering, the effects etc. This information can be disseminated using your social media pages, documentaries and daily articles.

OS: This motivates us to work harder.  Thank you. Your last words?

ASM: We have unleashed a plastic plague upon the planet. Therefore, we find the human race running for what MLK Jnr terms as the Fierce urgency of the now.

OS: Thank you so much Hon. Alwande Moyo for the insightful chat. I think if more is invested in the service delivery of refuse collection this will ensure improved plastic management and limit its environmental impact. Thank you once again for your time. It was a pleasure having you on our show. The chat was worth having.

ASM: The pleasure is all mine. Thank you to Besana Mail for according me with such an honour, huge thanks goes out to all the viewers out there. God bless Zimbabwe #Mayibuye IAfrika #Zizojika izinto

OS: This brings us to the end of tonight’s discussion.