CAPE MACLEAR, MALAWI – Divers in the small village of Cape Maclear have launched a volunteer initiative to save Lake Malawi, one of Africa’s most vital water bodies, from an overwhelming plastic pollution crisis.
Under the banner of the Health, Education, Environment, and Economic Development (HEEED) nonprofit organisation, divers have shifted from explorers to environmental crusaders. In recent days, divers have been seen surfacing with bags of collected plastic bottles and other waste collected from the lake bed. These plastics have not been disposed of; instead, they have been repurposed into various household items through creative recycling.
“We beckon tourists to see our lake, so we must keep it clean,” said Alex Basikolo, Lake Malawi National Park Ranger. “We are protecting underwater breeding grounds. If there is too much garbage, the fish population will decrease, threatening both the ecosystem and our livelihoods.”
Lake Malawi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is at a critical point where it can either be saved or destroyed. Despite a 2025 ban on thin plastics, Lake Malawi continues to face environmental threats from agricultural and human waste, as well as the indiscriminate dumping of waste. In this regard, according to the National Waste Management Strategy, more than 70% of the 75,000 metric tons of plastic products generated in Malawi are improperly disposed of.
HEEED’s initiative aims to combat the threat of microplastics to endemic species in Lake Malawi caused by waste decomposition. However, HEEED Manager Violet Zakaria says, “We really need financial support to scale this work. We recognise this is a passion-based initiative, but we recognise Lake Malawi is a premier tourist destination, and tourists expect and deserve a clean, healthy environment.” By embracing creative recycling, divers in Cape Maclear have proved that although the problem is big, their determination to save Lake Malawi is bigger.
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