Likoma Island Festival (Life) organisers have said apart from entertainment and cultural activities, the 2026 edition will prioritise efforts to address environmental degradation caused by thin plastics. The organisers say the growing presence of thin plastic waste on Likoma and Chizumulu islands is undermining tourism development and risking the ecological balance of the island’s environment. Speaking during a press briefing in Lilongwe on Tuesday, festival director Patrick Chikoti said the issue has become a key focus of this year’s event due to its direct impact on tourism potential.
“One of the biggest challenges we are facing as a country and as a destination is the proliferation of thin plastics on Likoma and Chizumulu islands. It is not only a problem for Likoma, it is almost everywhere,” he said. Chikoti said the situation is particularly worrisome given that tourism remains one of the key economic drivers for the district.
As such, they want to use the festival as one of the platforms to address the challenge. “Apart from fishing, the other industry with potential to grow the district’s economy is tourism. But if we destroy the environment, we cannot achieve much with tourism,” he said.
[paywall]
Chikoti said organisers are working with stakeholders to support efforts to eliminate thin plastics from the islands, aligning the initiative with government’s policy on plastic waste management. “We want to work with stakeholders on the islands and others to get rid of these thin plastics. There is actually a ban on thin plastics.
We want to ensure that Likoma and Chizumulu islands are free from thin plastics by 2030,” he said. The festival is also meant to reinforce the connection between tourism, arts, culture and life as reflected in its theme ‘Life in tourism, arts and culture’. The festival’s sixth edition will feature a variety of activities, including 11 traditional dances, a showcase of local cuisine from Likoma and Chizumulu Islands, music performances from artists such as Nyapondo, Gidi and the Likoma Islanders Band, sightseeing tours and a traditional canoe race.
Meanwhile, Likoma legislator Charles Chilambula (Democratic Progressive Party) has supported the festival with K12 million. “As an islander, I would love to see more people coming to the islands. For a long time there have been negative stories about Likoma and we want to change that narrative because Likoma is one of the most beautiful places,” said Chilambula, who is also deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation.
His support also extends to cultural preservation, particularly traditional dances and indigenous games which he noted are gradually disappearing. He said preserving such cultural practices was important for maintaining identity among the islanders.
[/paywall]
All Zim News – Bringing you the latest news and updates.
