Minister launches Environment Day

The Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Mduduzi Dlamini distributes reusable shopping bags.

Matsapha – Minister of Tourisn and Environmental Affairs Mduduzi Dlamini officially launched this year’s celebrations for World Environment Day in Matsapha.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reported that at least a third of everything grown on this planet is lost between the field and the consumer.
This is an ethical, economic and environmental issue given the enormous waste of energy, water, fertilisers and other inputs as a result of food that is produced but never eaten. This also includes food produced in industries.

Therefore, there is a need to continue raising awareness and engaging in ways that will help preserve our environment and this year’s World Environment Day is aimed at preserving the environment and alleviate food wastage.
It is themed “Think-Eat-Save, Reduce Your Foodprint campaign.” Minister Dlamini launched the celebrations which are going to take place tomorrow.

 
The launch took place in Matsapha at the Municipality Offices. Present at the launch were representatives of the Swaziland Environmental Authority (SEA), Matsapha Municipality and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The minister invited and challenged the nation to join the world in an effort to raise awareness and participate in the campaign.

Minister addresses issue of food wastage

MATSAPHA – There have been newspaper reports of hundreds of tonnes of food being disposed of recently.

Minister Mduduzi Dlamini also shared some of the reports which have been recorded from Matsapha alone, that hundreds of tonnes of spoiled food are disposed of every month. “All of this is happening at a time when as a country we are still doing all we can to ensure that no Swazi goes to bed on an empty stomach,” he said.

Dlamini said, “The Swazi people are historically known for their respect for not only the environment that gives them diverse food, but for the food itself.” The minister said as the Swazi nation’s food preservation methods come as second nature as they are instilled from childhood.
These very methods encourage people not to waste food and to keep it for less productive times.

Major retailers in the country have taken part in the campaign which will help ensure that there is a limit in the amount of food that is disposed of. During the launch the public was encouraged to instead share food with neighbours or the less fortunate to avoid the disposal of food that has expired or has been spoilt.

Food depots have been set up in all major shopping centres in the country for everyone who has excess food to drop it off in these sites under the slogan, ‘Ungalahli –Cabanga Makhelwane’.  All the food items that will be collected through this campaign will be distributed to the needy.

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