MALAWI: Archdiocese of Blantyre Vicar-General Calls for By-Laws on Littering
Luke Bisani
Rev. Fr. Boniface Tamani, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Blantyre, has called for the establishment of by-laws that would impose penalties on individuals who litter in public spaces across Malawi.
During a tree planting exercise in Mussa Village, Chiradzulu district, organized jointly by the Catholic University of Malawi, the Catholic Women Association (CWA) of the Archdiocese of Blantyre, World Union of Catholic Organizations, and the Jesuit Centre for Ecology and Development, Father Tamani expressed his concerns regarding the state of waste management in the country.
He noted that it is particularly troubling that littering is prevalent among those who are considered well-educated.
“Sometimes you see someone driving a very expensive vehicle, which gives the impression that they are well-educated, yet they casually throw waste out of their car windows,” Father Tamani remarked.
“Many of these individuals travel to countries where littering is uncommon, prompting the question: Is it the laws in those countries that deter them, or is it something else?” he queried.
Environmental expert Mathews Malata echoed Father Tamani’s concerns, emphasizing the need for Malawians to learn from successful waste disposal practices in other countries.
Malata also called on the country’s authorities to enforce existing laws that regulate littering.
“The Road Traffic Act prohibits littering while driving, yet we still see people irresponsibly tossing trash from their vehicle windows,” he said.
Malata urged citizens to take a proactive approach to environmental conservation by adopting behaviors that protect nature.
Through his second encyclical, Laudato Si, Pope Francis, urges humankind to take good care of Mother Earth by keep her safe from dangers that may also affect human beings.
