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Zanzibar slaps complete ban on plastic bags
2007-10-26 09:47:11
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
The Zanzibar government yesterday slapped a complete ban on importation and circulation of all types of plastic bags, in a national-wide campaign to protect the environment and human health.
Zanzibar Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha made the announcement yesterday when wrapping up the House of Representatives` session.
`From now onwards, regional commissioners should put up prohibitive actions to contain massive importation of plastic bags, and prevent circulation of the products in domestic markets,` he said.
On the Mainland, the government has already outlawed the importation and production of light plastic bags with no visible effect.
In a far reaching move, the Isles government yesterday imposed a wholesale prohibition covering all types of plastic bags—light and others.
`The government has decided to disallow the use of plastic bags of any kind in Zanzibar,` he said.
The war against plastic bags results from scientific proof that the products—both imported and locally manufactured— are hazardous to the environment and human lives.
The chief minister called on the business community and regional leaders to look for alternative and environmentally-friendly bags which would replace plastic hand baggage.
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