Environmental Theatre Won’t Save Us

As Ms Earth Slams  Plastic Crisis Response

By Francis Maingaila ♥️ 

Lusaka, Zambia24, - (July 5, 2025) — Zambia is grappling with a deepening plastic pollution crisis, and critics say the government’s response amounts to little more than environmental theatre — hollow rituals that do nothing to stop the plastic from piling up.

Speaking during World Environment Day commemorations in Lusaka on Saturday, Ms Earth Zambia, Kena Chibuye, delivered a powerful and pointed critique of what she called “short-lived, performative efforts” that fail to address the root causes of the problem.

“Despite the passion displayed during these commemorations, the commitment to action fades almost immediately after the event,” Chibuye said. “Plastic continues to choke our streets, markets, and water bodies. What we’re doing is simply not enough.”

Her remarks underscored a growing frustration among environmental advocates, who say that speeches, marches, and public pledges are not translating into sustained action. Chibuye pointed to overflowing dumpsites, the misuse of donated waste bins, and the absence of real behavioral change as evidence that current efforts are superficial.

This year’s World Environment Day was themed “Beat Plastic Pollution,” a recycled slogan from the 2023 campaign. Chibuye questioned what had actually changed in the intervening year.

“Where is the accountability? Where are the results?” she asked. “If behavior hasn’t changed and plastic still floods our communities, then these campaigns are nothing but theatre.”

She also criticized the failure to effectively reach the people whose behavior is central to the problem — many of whom are excluded from these events and remain unaware of their environmental impact.

“How can change happen if those who need the message the most aren’t even present to hear it?” she asked. “We are preaching to the converted.”

Beyond criticizing the lack of follow-through, Chibuye called for full implementation and enforcement of Zambia’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations under the Environmental Management Act. She said that placing the burden on producers to take responsibility for the entire life cycle of their plastic products — from production to post-consumer waste — is key to achieving long-term change.

“Producers must be held accountable for the waste they create,” Chibuye said. “EPR is not a suggestion — it is policy. If enforced properly, it can revolutionize how we manage plastic waste in this country.”

She explained that EPR would force manufacturers, importers, and distributors of plastic packaging to redesign products, contribute to collection and recycling systems, and invest in waste management infrastructure. Without such pressure, Chibuye warned, companies will continue to prioritize profit over environmental protection.

“We cannot continue allowing manufacturers to flood the market with cheap, non-recyclable plastics and then expect underfunded councils or communities to clean up the mess,” she said. “That model has failed. It is unjust and unsustainable.”

Her comments have added fuel to growing demands for the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment and local councils to move beyond public relations gestures and instead implement practical, community-based solutions to the waste crisis — anchored in the EPR framework.

Although the government has introduced bans on some plastic products and run public awareness campaigns, enforcement is widely seen as inconsistent and ineffective. Critics argue that without follow-through, even the best ideas fail to produce results.

Chibuye called for a total shift in approach — one rooted in continuous engagement, strong policy enforcement, and genuine grassroots participation.

“It’s time to stop treating environmental advocacy as a one-day affair,” she said. “True change demands consistency, inclusivity, and follow-through. Otherwise, it’s not advocacy — it’s performance.”

Environmental groups such as Green Nature echoed her call, urging the government to foster real collaboration among agencies, civil society, and the private sector to build sustainable solutions.

Plastic waste continues to clog drainage systems, cause urban flooding, and pollute vital rivers and lakes like the Kafue and Zambezi, with dire consequences for both biodiversity and livelihoods.

As climate change magnifies these threats, environmental advocates warn that symbolic action is no longer acceptable.

“The country cannot afford to wait for another campaign season or commemorative day,” Chibuye warned. “We are running out of time — and excuses.”