* A celebration of creativity and sustainability of eco-friendly fashion spiced by powerful pottery, story telling, among others
* Our event was to raise awareness and promote action to protect our environment and to resonate with the theme for World Environment Day 2025; ‘Ending Plastic Pollution’
By Duncan Mlanjira
Bon Voyage Club, one of the country’s top tour guide service providers, joined the World and Malawi in commemorating the World Environment Day 2025 in creative style with models dressed in clothing made from recyclable materials — aligning with the global theme; ‘Ending Plastic Pollution‘.
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In an interview, Bon Voyage founder, Chimwemwe Nyirenda said they celebrated the day on Saturday, June 7 as the actual day fell on Thursday, June 5 in line with the Ministry of Natural Resources & Climate Change’s appeal to Malawians to take a decisive action and shared responsibility and work together to protect natural heritage.
“Bon Voyage Club was joined by DMI University-Lilongwe Campus and Dzalanyama Primary School learners at a special event that took place at Dzalanyama Forest Reserve — one of reserves being heavily deforested by poachers of wood for the production of charcoal.
“Our event was to raise awareness and promote action to protect our environment and to resonate with the theme for World Environment Day 2025; ‘Ending Plastic Pollution‘.
“The main showcase of the event was having the DMI University students as models featuring clothing made from recyclable materials — a celebration of the creativity and sustainability of eco-friendly fashion.
“The event was also spiced by some creative pottery, story telling that highlighted the effects of pastic pollution through art and music — with Lady Aika showcasing her spirited outdoor acoustic performance.
“Miss Heritage, Wongani Mkandawire and School Days actress Yvonne Chanache, were the models who showcased the eco-friendly outfits on display at the event,” said Nyirenda, who added that the Dzalanyama Primary School learners were included to inculcate in the young minds to be part of the environmental conservation movement.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Natural Resources & Climate Change, commemorated the World Environment Day jointly with the 2025 International Day for Biological Biodiversity at Chongole Primary School in Nkhotakota, where Minister Owen Chomanika urged Malawians to take a decisive action and shared responsibility and work together to protect natural heritage.
Chomanika emphasised that time for decisive action is now and Malawians should embrace the shared responsibility and highlighted that government’s action alone is not enough as protecting the environment and biodiversity requires collective efforts that demands active participation of each and everyone.
Minister Chomanika addressing the gathering in Nkhotakota
“Let us renew our resolve to restore our land, protect our forests, and tackle the scourge of waste pollution,” he said. “Let this occasion serve not only as a moment of reflection but as a united commitment to bold, collective action for the future of Malawi.”
Chomanika added that challenges like land degradation and deforestation — compounded by waste pollution, particularly from the plastics, which is non-biodegradable — has diminished biodiversity but also undermined natural systems that protect climate shocks and sustains water resources.
He, therefore, urged business persons to adopt sustainable practices; communities to champion conservation initiatives; educators to instil environmental awareness in the youth, and every citizen to make conscious choices that minimise environmental footprint.
Present was Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Director General, Wilfred Kadewa, who said it is doable to end the escalating plastic pollution and the other interconnected challenges affecting the environment in order to have a clean environment.
“It requires us to take part and not be spectators as it is not just for MEPA or Department of Environment Affairs or Government because they are custodians — every stakeholder must play their role for a clean environment,” he said.
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Ahead of the commemoration, Kadewa addressed a press briefing in Lilongwe on the status of enforcement of the regulations on the ban of thin plastics in Malawi where he updated that MEPA has strengthened the regulations and penalties to deter manufacturing companies.
Kadewa stressed that thin plastics ban was issued to address issues of pollution in water bodies, soils and landscape — and its impact to wildlife and livestock, saying since the ban on manufacturing and use of thin plastics on February 10, 2025, MEPA has been conducting inspections to companies to ensure that they comply with the rules.
