Tanzanians have been urged to discontinue the use of plastic bags, as they pose serious risks to human health, wildlife, and the environment at large.
The call was made by the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Dr. Ashatu Kijaji, during her visit to exhibition booths at the ongoing World Environment Day 2025 celebrations, held on June 2 at the Jakaya Kikwete Convention Centre grounds in Dodoma.
Dr. Kijaji emphasized that if not properly managed, plastic bags often end up being carelessly discarded into the environment and water sources including oceans and lakes where they cause severe harm to aquatic life, particularly fish and their breeding grounds.
“We must all understand that these plastic bags are harmful not just to us as human beings, but also to our livestock and marine life. For example, when fish ingest these plastics, their digestive systems cannot break them down, leading to their eventual death,” she stated.
The Minister also called on livestock keepers across the country to adopt sustainable practices that do not degrade the environment, such as avoiding the indiscriminate cutting of trees for pasture.
She highlighted that pastures originate from natural ecosystems and emphasized the importance of long-term, sustainable forage solutions.
To support this, the government has introduced certified seed varieties for fodder trees and grasses to improve feed availability without harming the environment.
“The government, through the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, is encouraging every livestock keeper to establish dedicated grazing areas. This will help reduce nomadic grazing, which contributes significantly to environmental degradation,” she added.
Dr. Kijaji also applauded the efforts of the Vice President’s Office in raising public awareness about waste management, particularly recycling and waste separation.
She noted that waste materials can be repurposed into valuable products, contributing to both environmental protection and economic development.
She urged citizens to take an active role in maintaining cleanliness at home and in public areas, and to support national reforestation efforts by planting trees key steps in creating a greener Tanzania.
At the Vice President’s Office booth, Dr. Damas Mapunda, Coordinator of the Sustainable Landscape Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Project (SLR), said the project is empowering communities to engage in environmentally friendly economic activities.
Dr. Mapunda noted that the project is helping citizens earn sustainable incomes, including through beekeeping in forest areas a practice that also supports environmental conservation.
He added that during the exhibition, entrepreneurs supported by the project are showcasing their products and educating the public on how the initiative is improving their lives and livelihoods.
Seven local government authorities are currently benefiting from the project. These include Iringa Rural (Iringa Region), Mbeya and Mbarali Districts (Mbeya Region), Sumbawanga Rural (Rukwa Region), and Tanganyika and Mpimbwe Districts (Katavi Region).
The 2025 World Environment Day is being marked under the theme: “Our Environment and the Tanzania We Want: Act Now, Control Plastic Use.”
The theme serves as a reminder that the environment and its resources are the foundation of life and development.
The official climax of the celebrations will take place on June 5, 2025, at the Jakaya Kikwete Convention Centre in Dodoma, where the Guest of Honour is expected to be the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan.
