By Rabecca Mumba

The Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) says it will embark on intensive countrywide environmental compliance inspections.

According to a media statement issued by the Authority’s acting director general Tawonga Mbale-Luka, the exercise is in accordance with the country’s laws which empowers MEPA to carry out periodic inspections.

“The inspections will only target hospitality establishments, processing companies, waste management and commercial facilities,” reads the statement in part.

Mbale-Luka added that failure to comply with the environmental regulations shall result in penalties.

MEPA has since urged people in the country to anonymously tip its authorities whenever they witness contravention of the set regulations.

The Authority was established by the Environmental Management Act of 2017 as a principal agency for protection and management of the environment and sustainable utilisation of natural resources.

The Act gives MEPA power to carry out periodic inspections to ensure that provisions of the Act and its regulations are complied with.