More than 16 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and various community groups involved in environmental cleanliness across the Lake Zone have convened in Mwanza to strengthen coordinated efforts to control plastic waste in Lake Victoria and develop practical, long-term solutions.

The forum, held the day before yesterday, brought together plastic producers and government authorities to design an inclusive strategy for managing plastic pollution in the lake.

Among the key resolutions reached were raising community awareness on the economic opportunities in waste, establishing structured waste collection in sensitive areas, and promoting waste segregation systems to ensure processors can easily access recyclable materials.

“In communities, along roadsides, and at fish landing sites, we propose placing waste bins that separate organic waste, metals, and plastics. These will be collected periodically and distributed to recyclers,” said Mlati Ngumuo, one of the forum participants.

Coca-Cola’s Safety and Environment Manager, Engineer Elida Edward, said the company will support the initiative by providing capital to youth groups involved in plastic waste collection and recycling to reduce pollution in streets and public spaces.

The Ilemela Municipal Council’s Sanitation Officer, Nyabugumba Kurya, noted that despite being the primary implementers of environmental laws, they still face challenges due to overlapping responsibilities with the National Environment Management Council (NEMC).

He added that as part of the plan, they will link youth and women engaged in plastic recycling with the council’s 10% revolving loan fund to help them operate more effectively and formally.

Presenting the forum’s background report, Vitus Medard from Synergistic Globe said the platform was established on June 5, 2025, with the goal of combating plastic pollution in Lake Victoria.

He also noted that the platform includes organizations funded by GAGGA through the Global Green Fund (GGF), aiming to transform plastic waste into economic opportunities rather than degrading lake resources.

Forum Coordinator Glory Mlaki said the resolutions are expected to accelerate environmental development in the Lake Zone regions.

She emphasized that the resolutions will be analyzed and refined so that only practical and impactful strategies are implemented within the set timeline.

According to her, each member organization must ensure communities receive proper education to promote meaningful and sustainable environmental change, with the network expected to reconvene in three years for a progress evaluation.

Environmental consultant Dr. Maimuna Mwanambasa urged that implementation start in Mwanza City to restore its former reputation as one of the cleanest urban centres in Tanzania.

“We expect to see Mwanza return to its top cleanliness rankings as before. But as we implement these plans, let’s not forget local leaders who also need training to keep pace with these efforts,” she said.

Mwanza Regional Health and Environment Officer Fungo Masalu said that the plan requires beginning with a model area to assess outcomes before scaling it to the entire Lake Zone.