Chapter Four: 



 
4..
ACTIONS TO MITIGATE SPECIFIC (-LOCALISED) ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

4.1 Pollution of air in urban centres (Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba)

4.2 What Government can do alone

Government should:

  1. put in place strict regulations for companies that pollute the environment;
  2. research into how factory emissions could be reduced;
  3. ban use of damaged vehicles that emit exhaust gases exceeding acceptable levels;
  4. ensure that waste from industries, hospitals and houses are properly disposed of;
  5. repair and provide more latrines in the towns.
  6. try to reduce the odour from sewerage ponds;
  7. increase number or size sewerage ponds;
  8. ensure that people establish lawns in their yard and also plant trees on their grounds; and
  9. tar or cement grounds at places like bus depots to reduce the dust (City Councils).
4.2.2 Unplanned Settlements

4.2.3 What Government can do alone

Government should

  1. survey, demarcate and allocate building plots quickly and fairly.
  2. ensure houses are built according to the regulations.
4.3 Degradation of the environment at the coal-loading bay (Rumphi)

4.3.1 What Government can do alone

The Government should

  1. advise the company to change the loading site; and
  2. carry out research to establish the hazard of coal dust for human beings.
4.4 Depletion of trees in refugee hosting districts (Nsanje, Chikwawa Mwanza, Mulanje, Thyolo, Nkhata Bay, Mangochi, Machinga, Dedza, Lilongwe and Mchinji)

4.4.1 What Government and NGOs can do

Government and NGOs should replant the areas which had been used by the refugees.

4.5 Depletion of palm-trees (Mangochi,Dedza, Salima, Machinga and Chikwawa)

4. 5.1 What people can do with assistance from Government and other agencies

Government and Chiefs should ensure that people do not cut palm trees to make palm wine.

4.6 Damming of rivers (Mchinji)

4.6.1 What people with assistance from Government and other agencies can do

Before any authority to dam a river is given, the local people should be consulted.

4.7 Over-population of crocodiles (Nsanje, Chikwawa)

4.7.1 What Government can do alone

Government should increase the quota on licences for crocodile hunters to reduce the population.

4.8 Over-population of cattle (Chikwawa, Nsanje)

4.8.1 What people can do on their own

People should:

  1. keep animals according to the available grazing land;
  2. reserve part of their land for grazing if they are livestock farmers; and
  3. agree on cattle movement paths.
4.9 Water and air pollution (Chikwawa)

4.9.1 What Government can do alone

Government should undertake research into the effects of sugar production on air and water.

4.10 Water and air pollution (Chiradaulu)

4.10.1 What Government can do alone

Government should:

  1. assist Blantyre City to identify disposal sites for industrial wastes within Blantyre area; and
  2. enforce penalties on companies which dump dangerous waste carelessly.
4. 11 Salty water (Dowa, ChiRwawa, Mwanza, Zomba, Machinga and Mangochi)

4 .11.1 What Government can do alone

Government should establish dams to provide good water in these areas.

4.12 Destruction of trees (Chitipa, Rumphi and Mzimba)

4.12.1 What people with assistance from Government can do

People should be taught how to grow finger millet like other crops, without damaging trees.

4.13 Degradation of land due to gemstone mining (Mzimba)

4.13.1 What people with assistance from Government can do

The Government should ensure that the pits are filled and inspect the sites to confirm that this is being done.
 

 
 

Contents | Acknowledgments | Preamble
Chapters:  |One | Two | Three | Four | Five