On July 8 each year, the world celebrates World Oceans Day. On this occasion, the UN in Burundi in collaboration with Royal Arts, Master Peace, Ishaka 2250, organized last weekend a plastic waste collection activity on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. This activity aimed to raise awareness among the Burundian population to fight against poor sanitation threatening waterways in Burundi.

For Désire Ndagijimana, head of the United Nations Information Centre in Burundi, protecting Lake Tanganyika is a necessity for all Burundians. "It is our responsibility to protect this lake water and to raise awareness by ensuring that we no longer throw plastic waste, biodegradable and non-biodegradable packaging into it, because if we do not protect the lake, it is our own lives that we are putting at risk," he indicated.

Read: Environment: two months dedicated to protecting the shores of Lake Tanganyika

The United Nations through the United Nations Development Programme, supports Burundi in several development programs including the fight against environmental degradation. In Burundi, plastic waste largely comprises objects that pollute Lake Tanganyika.

However, to value this waste, a number of projects are being developed by the United Nations in collaboration with local NGOs including Royal Arts, Master Peace, Ishaka 2250, to facilitate their recycling and reuse.

The contribution of associations for the protection of Lake Tanganyika

For Royal Arts, a company working in the field of environmental protection through art, protecting the lake is its priority. This organization transforms plastic waste collected from various places into art objects.

Thibaut Joe Ndabaneze, Executive Director of Royal Arts, calls on the government to raise awareness among the population about sorting between biodegradable and non-degradable waste in order to facilitate companies working in the waste transformation sector.

The president of MasterPeace Burundi, Henry Bayaga, clarified that Lake Tanganyika is of paramount importance for the lives of Burundians. "Protecting Lake Tanganyika means saving lives," says Mr. Bayaga, the head of this organization which uses the soft power of art, music, and sport to promote peace and the SDGs. According to Henry Bayaga, a legal framework for environmental protection would be necessary.

Read also: Urgent measures are needed to protect Lake Tanganyika

Several waterways that flow into Lake Tanganyika are heavily polluted and in turn contaminate the lake. The waters that pass through the place commonly called kumase give off a foul odor. These waters flow into Lake Tanganyika, thus destroying the aquatic ecosystem.

Blandon Uwamahoro