World Environment Day Commemorated every year on the 5th of June, this day saw LUSIP 2 Ext. unleash its fervent passion for the environment. This year’s theme was “Beat Plastic Pollution” and boy did the project stand up! Garnering support from Traditional Authorities and Chiefdom Development Committees of kaMngometulu, Ngcamphalala and Matsenjwa; Swaziland Environment Authority; EnviroWise; Farm Chemicals and the Lubuli Inkhundla, the event was a true reflection of how much can be achieved when organizational partnerships are encouraged.  
 The Plot This event took place at the Lubuli Inkhundla where the Mngometulu Chiefdom is housed and where a larger portion of arable land for the LUSIP 2 project is located. From the chiefdom, an estimated total of over 2000 households are targeted to benefit from the LUSIP 2 Ext project through the formation of 14 Farmer Companies. The location was therefore appealing to the project’s interests as well as the chiefdom’s challenge of increased livestock mortality as a result of plastic. Giving his gratitude speech Induna Mpondo Dlamini lamented that as a result of plastics being thrown everywhere the chiefdom has lost a number of cattle and this has negatively affected the Chiefdom’s already bleak economic base.  
 The Event The event kicked off with a clean-up walk of about 1km starting from Joyela to the Lubuli Inkhundla. This busy road had the most littered paper, glass, cans and plastics. These were collected separately into 80 different refuse bags. It was not surprising that all 80 bags were filled to the brim with litter consisting of mostly (you guessed it) plastic!  A wowing presentation of art made of plastic by pupils was then staged which saw Ndzevane High walk away with first prize. This particular school showed higher levels of potential innovations that can come out of plastic. Other creations included mats, a buzzing bee, hats, home deco trees and many more.   Much to the interest of the event’s guest speaker Mr. Ginindza of EnviroWise, the displays reminded him of how he started his business collecting plastics. In his speech he inspired the attendants on the endless income-generating possibilities that come with just plastic. On a lighter note, he joked on how his business would take the ‘plastic opportunity’ if the community doesn’t act fast.

Speeches from the Swaziland Environment Authority showed appreciation to SWADE for being continually cognizant of environmental concerns and pleaded with the community to make use of such awareness opportunities. On the other hand, the Royal Swaziland Police cautioned the community of possible arrests of people found littering. The speaker quoted an Act that obliges the police to make arrests of persons that show to be delinquents in this regard. 

The Victory SWADE, through the LUSIP 2 Ext, has indeed cemented the foundation to conquer plastic pollution in its project development area.  For starters, to host the event at the actual crux of community development (the Lubuli Inkhundla) shows strategic cognizance. It is expected that from this position, environment programs in partnership with the area’s organizations will emerge. Furthermore, the inspirations by EnviroWise for the Mngometulu people to start looking at plastics as an easy way to generate income are well matched with their currently low economic situation. Leaving the area plastic, paper, glass and tin-free will hopefully remain in the minds of the residents and continue to inspire its young people to creatively (rather than hazardously) utilize plastic.