THE BANNING OR SUSPENSION OF LARGER PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES

By Namakando Nalikando-Sinyama There seems to be something amiss about this warped reasoning because it is not really clear what the rationale behind this Suspension or Ban is. Why do I get the impression there is a growing morbid and highly disturbing obsession with Banning things in these parts! Did the Consumers not deserve to be told exactly what the said practices by the Manufacturers are? Have tgey been drinking dirty water, if so, how does it become clean when the Plastic packaging is smaller? Especially if the water is still made by the same Company? Just what is the connection between Water Weights & Measures and Health? Is the Chemical Process (Mostly Reverse Osmosis) any different based on packaging? Is the Chemical analysis of the water revealing different findings of dissolved Ions or suspended Impurities? If the Danger is Health related, surely the Risk should have been spelt out and made known for them to take corrective and preventative measures. If as we are now beginning to learn it is about the discovery of UFO's (Unidentified Floating Objects) like stowaway Amphibians in isolated cases this should have been explicitly stated.How will this problem self-resolve in 60 Days?There is a very substantial Cost differential between the Bigger 'Dispenser' Water as compared to the smaller exploitative ones you use on the go. On average, the 20 Litre Dispenser Bottles cost a little under K25 and would last a small family of 5 even a week or more to finish. Whereas, if each member of the family were to buy two 750ml Bottles at K5 each per Day, this would cost them a whooping K350.00 in a week! I may have muddled up the Math but you still get the Point. Here is a crazy thought, let us imagine if we can that by reverse Mosaic Hydro-Christian miracle someone touched all the Municipal and Water Utility treatment Plants, cleaned out all the ecoli. Bacteria and suspended faecal matter and made it all safe to Drink. What would happen to these Bottled Mineral Water Companies? Did Tap water mysteriously become unsafe to Drink for a reason? Because us face it, as a friend has reminded me it used to be completely safe at one point right? It has become more fashionable and admirable Environmental stewardship and Responsible practice to reuse the small Plastic Bottles instead of discarding them anywhere and everywhere and not forgetting Cost Effective in these troubled Economic Dire straights(Forgive the Mark Knopfler Musical Pun) to simply decant Chilled water from your 20 Litre home Dispenser and be on your way. Dispenser Water in Homes lasts longer depending on the weather and size of the household.The Big Bottle are returnable or reasonable and thus a more reasonable and better way if combating or shocking the planet in PET Plastic. Let us face it, the recently discovered Plastic Eating Enzyme may not find its way to Africa for the next 20 years or so to follow or may never even get here for all I know like most other things Life serving have not. This decision has to be subjected to a much greater level of scientific and public scrutiny than merely glossing over the real reasons behind the suspension courtesy of some, half thought through, fuzzy and dodgy public Communiqué. Let have proper concerted efforts based on empirical evidence instead of arriving at rushed decisions probably spurred on by various interest Groups driven by the overreaching Profit motive than anything else. There is a Global Consensus and singular voice that "Let us Serve Mother Earth and Save Money, not Line Pockets at whatever Cost. P.S. When did we even get so hooked on this fad for Bottled water? Now we learn that alas, clutching a plastic water Bottle is even considered a Status symbol! Things were never like this with us growing up in the early 80's and 90's . This is a relatively new and costly hydration craze. I remember when thirsty and feeling increasingly parched we would simply look around for a nearest public faucet(Tap) bend over , Cup your palm and drink your fill and quench yourself. Alternatively, when there was still a good sense of neighbourliness , one would simply risk a vicious attack from rabid canines and knock a total stranger's house and humbly exclaim in kiSwahili , Hodi! I am kindly asking for a drink of Water please. Sigh!!! Nostalgia creeps in.We still had and cherished a sense of Community then, when the Economy was friendlier that is.