MINOR Hotels Zambia general manager Laurie Burr says the use of all forms of plastic at The Royal Livingstone Hotel and Avani Victoria Falls Resort will be banned in five months’ time.
Mr Burr said this is in order to conform to Government's aspirations of saving the environment and the planet.
He made the pronouncement on Saturday night during the observation of the WWF organised Earth Hour at Avani Victoria Falls Resort that was graced by Southern province minister Edify Hamukale.
Earth Hour is an annual event, usually held on the last Saturday evening in March, when people worldwide turn off lights and shut down most electrical appliances to celebrate sustainability and show their support for strategies that will help solve the problem of global warming.
“We will remain committed to taking part in environmental protection activities and we are pledging to reduce our plastic and in four to five months from now, my goal with my leadership team at our properties we will ban the use of plastics, plastic bottles or water bottles in both our hotels,” he said.
Mr Burr said Minor Hotels Zambia has this year committed to reduce its water and electricity consumption.
And Dr Hamukale said Government has done its part to address the issues surrounding environmental protection and called for more people to come on board and supplement it.
“You are perfectly aware that we, in the SADC region, not only in Southern province in 2018/2019 season was heavily affected by poor rainfall and a larger explanation of this is irresponsible behaviour by mankind,” he said.
Dr Hamukale said mankind desperately need nature hence the need for it to be protected.
“Nature does not need mankind. If we were not here, probably there was going to be more Zebras, more Impalas, Buffalos, trees and more of what was created in the beginning than what we have today and it’s all because of man’s demand for products of nature or derivatives of nature,” he said.
He said mankind is the biggest reason why the world is facing ecological challenges including cyclones that have claimed many lives.
“This has come at the back of the nuisance in the management of nature,” he said.
Speaking earlier, WWF country director Nachilala Nkombo said the Earth Hour is a reminder for people to take care of their natural resources and conserve them.
“The acceleration of loss of nature needs action now. Here in Zambia, 90 per cent of electricity is from water and for us to continue having access to power, we need to keep our rivers flowing,” she said.
She also emphasised on the need to replenish the forests which have been depleted due to charcoal burning.
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