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The Zambian Government has called for urgent and coordinated action to address electronic waste (e-waste), warning that it is among the fastest-growing environmental challenges associated with modern consumption and technological development.
Ministry of Green Economy and Environment Permanent Secretary, Douty Chibamba, said the rapid uptake of digital technologies across households, businesses and public institutions was increasing the volume of obsolete electrical and electronic equipment.
Chibamba raised the concern in Lusaka on Wednesday during the commemoration of World E-Waste Day in a statement read on his behalf by Zambia Forestry Department Director Freddie Siangulube.
He said improper disposal of electronic equipment resulted in the loss of valuable materials while exposing people and the environment to hazardous substances.
“When electrical and electronic equipment is discarded without proper management, valuable materials are lost while hazardous substances contaminate the environment and expose people to serious health risks,” Chibamba said.
He noted that improper burning, dumping and dismantling of e-waste polluted the air, soil and water, posing serious risks to workers and communities involved in informal recycling.
“For the Government of Zambia, this challenge requires urgent and coordinated attention. As digital technologies become more widely used, we must ensure that systems for collecting, transporting, storing, treating and recycling obsolete equipment develop alongside their usage,” he said.
Chibamba said the country could not embrace the benefits of technological progress while ignoring the environmental and human costs of the waste generated.
He said the Government was committed to addressing the challenge through effective regulations, stronger institutional capacity, public awareness, appropriate infrastructure and meaningful participation by all stakeholders.
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Chibamba commended the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for its collaboration through the Sustainable E-Waste Management for Youth Employment project, which demonstrates how environmental protection and job creation can complement each other.
“This initiative recognizes that environmental protection and employment creation are not competing priorities but can reinforce one another when supported by the right policies, skills and investments,” he said.
“For the Government of the Republic of Zambia, developing a responsible e-waste value chain can contribute to the Green Growth agenda by encouraging enterprises, promoting resource efficiency and creating opportunities for investment and development,” he said.
Chibamba acknowledged the contributions of the Provincial Administration, local authorities, training institutions, employers, workers’ organisations and development partners supporting the initiative.
He stressed that realising the benefits of sustainable e-waste management would require appropriate technologies, trained personnel, viable markets, access to finance and effective regulatory compliance.
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