Zambia still committed to Rotterdam convention

Zambia remains committed to the 2004 Rotterdam Convention aiming at controlling trans-boundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal.

Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) Director General Joseph Sakala said this in Lusaka today during the official opening of a sub-regional Anglophone workshop on enhancing effective participation in work of the chemicals review committee (CRC).

Mr. Sakala said in a speech read on his behalf by his Environmental Specialist David Kapingula that the aim of the workshop was to enhance the understanding of all stakeholders involved in the process for reviewing and listing chemicals under the convention.

He said the workshop was also aimed at increasing the understanding of information requirements and support participation.

He said the discussions and open dialogues at the workshop have shown the willingness of all stakeholders to improve the national and regional processes on waste management.

And one of the workshop participants, Oladele Osibanjo, said chemicals in modern society have brought progress and convenience.

Professor Osibanjo said over 1,000 chemicals were currently on the market and consumers were exposed to them on a daily basis.

He said most of these chemicals have not been thoroughly assessed for their hazard and risk yet manufacturing was increasingly being shifted from developed countries to emerging economy countries.