afrol News, 16 October - South Africa has kicked-off a climate change and environmental awareness campaign that will cut across the borders with its neighbours.

The campaign was launched today at Beit Bridge, the main connecting boder channel with Zimbabwe, where deputy minister for Water and Environmental Affairs, Rejoice Mabudafhasi and her Harare counterpart, Francis Nhema officiated.

The campaign will amongst others create awareness amongst communities residing in the vicinity of the borders and for them to take care of the environment.

The South African deputy minister also said the Clean-Up Campaign, the first of its kind, will not only be limited to cleaning the borders but would also be used to highlight other critical environmental issues, including climate change, air quality and the need for the continent to forge strong links in matters relating to sustainable development.

"We are starting to create awareness among communities residing in the vicinity of all our borders. This is being done in partnership with countries with which we share borders," said Ms Mabudafhasi, who also said the campaign will be used to create awareness about the menace of xenophobia.

The campaign, will also be rolled out to other countries sharing borders with SA, including Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia and Mozambique.

She said the campaign was also a signal for the readiness of the member states in the continent to speak with one voice ahead of the climate change talks to be be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, saying the region and the continent were some of the areas that are likely to be most affected by the effects of climate change.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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