Legislation is being drafted to force Zimbabwean mobile operators to tackle the disposal of airtime top-up cards, which government says is becoming hazardous to the environment.
Zimbabwe’s mobile phone industry has boomed to reach a subscriber base of over 10 million users across telecom companies that include Econet, Telecel and NetOne.
However, according to environment, water and climate minister; Saviour Kasukuwere, the disposal of used airtime top-up cards risks becoming environmental and health hazards for the country.
“We are creating a statutory instrument that looks into making all companies involved in production of scratch recharge cards and cans that are reaping profits but leaving the environment poorer,” Kasukuwere said on Monday.
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He said mobile companies and other firms that manufacture beverages packaged in cans and pet bottles should also aid in environmental programmes, hence the move to introduce legislation.
But it was not immediately clear when the statutory instrument would be passed.
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