The impacts of waste dumping in Lake Malawi

ABSTRACT

In Malawi, Lake Malawi is one of the most important tourist attractions in Malawi. However, waste dumping in the lake is reducing the number of tourist visits. The aim of this study was to research what is currently happening in and around Lake Malawi due to waste dumping, what the local inhabitants are saying about this issue, and their recommendations for improving the condition of the lake. This paper reviews the challenges and dangers that occur due to waste dumping globally and how individuals, water species and even the water itself are affected. A sample of 48 inhabitants of Lake Malawi were surveyed to ascertain the current waste-related circumstances of the lake, and their recommendations for improvement. The article recommends that people who are staying near the lake must urgently stop dumping waste into the lake, and policies must be implemented to stop any further waste dumping behaviours from happening.

KEYWORDS:

• Waste management
• pollution

1. Introduction

Historically, the amount of waste generated by humans was generally too insignificant to cause any lasting effects on natural habitats. This was due to low population densities, low societal levels of exploitation of natural resources, and limited industrial activities. This has, however, changed significantly in the recent age of industrialisation, with large volumes of waste being produced by human activities such as the extraction and processing of raw materials. Waste can be either solid, liquid, or gaseous; and each state of waste can pose a threat to human health. Waste management deals with the handling and processing of all types of waste including industrial, biological, and household by-products to reduce the adverse effects they have on human health, as well as on the health and/or aesthetics of the natural environment.

Many tourism destinations, such as Lake Malawi, act as locations for people to interact with nature. This has resulted in many businesses emerging to support the tourism activities, while providing employment to many people from different backgrounds and professions. Tourists visit Lake Malawi from all over the world to explore the waters and to taste the multitude of fish species that are found there. In the process, however, there is a considerable amount of waste produced. Many lodges, hotels, and restaurants, for instance, deposit garbage and human waste into the lake; while many residents from the surrounding villages, such as those employed in the thriving tourism industry, dump food residues, defecate, wash and bath in the lake (Dilevics, 2014). Many tourists, too, discard plastics and waste food items around the lake.

There is very little current research, however, regarding the effects that the dumping of waste in and around Lake Malawi are having on tourism, the residents, and the ecology of the lake. This study performed a qualitative, exploratory survey of 48 inhabitants around the lake, with parallels to a Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), to define their opinions on the effects and consequences of tourism, waste, and waste dumping into the lake. The study also solicited the locals’ recommendations for improving the waste situation in the region. This article begins by reviewing the literature on the challenges and dangers that occur due to waste dumping, globally, before outlining the materials and methods, results, analysis, and conclusions of the study.

2. Literature review

2.1. Global view of wastes

Rapid economic growth, urbanisation, and an increasing population across the globe has caused materially-intensive resource consumption to increase, leading to the release of a large amount of wastes into the environment. From a global perspective, current waste and resource management lacks a holistic approach that covers the whole chain of product design, raw material extraction, production, consumption, recycling, and waste management (Singh et al., 2014).

Pollution is one of the biggest threats to biodiversity and the environment in the world. Solid wastes are often everyday by-products of households, commercial, and institutional entities, and include waste such as garbage, sludge from wastewater and water supply treatment plants, as well as other discarded materials from industrial operations. Among the worst affected areas are water bodies such as lakes or rivers; and since local communities rely on these natural resources for water, food, recreation, and tourism, the pollutants inevitably have effects on the inhabitants (Mambra, 2019).

2.1.1. Waste dumping and management in the USA

As a nation, the United States of America (USA) generates more waste than any other nation in the world, from manufacturing, retailing, and commercial trade. According to one study, people in the USA deposit about 120 million tons of waste into landfills each year; while most industries and mining corporations dump their waste into the oceans, lakes and rivers (Sampat et al., 2021).

Numerous areas in the US are renowned for high pollution levels. This pollution comes primarily from urban runoff and sewage systems. There are, however, instances of extreme waste build-up being resolved by local authorities.

The Cuyahoga River in Northeast Ohio, for instance, was once accessed for fishing, camping and swimming purposes before pollution caused almost all fish and wildlife in the river to die. Indeed, the river was famed for becoming so polluted with hazardous wastes from manufacturing industries that it often caught fire (DeVroom 2014). The river experienced at least 13 fires, the largest of which reportedly caused over $1 million in damage to boats, bridges, and riverfront office buildings. The fires helped to spur numerous water pollution control activities. These included the Clean Water Act, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA). These initiatives have improved the water quality and restored some wildlife to many areas that were previously affected by pollution (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2007).

In the USA, the EPA now regulates all waste material under the 1,976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which includes provisions on the disposal of solid and hazardous waste materials (Ian Tiseo, 2020). It encourages individual states to create comprehensive plans to manage non-hazardous and municipal wastes through reducing, re-using, and recycling; while violations, like dumping hazardous waste into town dumps to avoid paying the fees charged by waste transporters and waste facilities, may result in hefty fines.

2.1.2. Waste dumping and management in Europe

Europe attracts some of the highest numbers of tourists, however many resorts have poor waste management records: some cases include waste dumping into the Mediterranean Sea where Turkey, Spain, Italy, and France were reported to dump 144, 126, 90, and 66 tons per day, respectively (WWF, 2018).

Following legal action from the EU, and directives on bathing water and urban waste-water, 99% of the UK’s 632 designated beaches have, however, been largely restored and are deemed safe for swimming. This was achieved following considerable legal and financial motivations, requiring £30bn of investment by water and waste companies over more than two decades (Mosbergen, 2018). Aside from the major increase in safety to public health and the environment due to these improvements in water quality, they have also generated considerable economic benefits, with the UK seaside tourism industry now being worth £3.6 billion each year, and supporting 210,000 jobs in England and Wales alone.

2.1.3. Waste dumping and management in Africa

Waste dumping in Africa is becoming an increasingly insurmountable burden, with many of the natural habitats and bodies of water becoming severely polluted. Lake Victoria, for instance, which is one of the great African lakes and one of the largest fresh-water lakes in the world, adjoining Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, is suffering from the effects of waste (Treaster, 2011). It is polluted with raw sewage, and has muddied from the erosion of soil from nearby hills which are losing trees and shrubs to people in search of firewood. Like Lake Chad in West Africa, and a few other lakes around the world, it has also been shrinking. In addition, parts of Lake Victoria are also clogged with hyacinths and algae that have been thinning out the fish populations.

Despite efforts by the governments of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to establish regulations on fishing and pollution, and organising fishermen groups and restricting fishing of the most popular species, conditions in the lake have continued to deteriorate. With new fishing processing plants and industrial factories continuing to grow and dump their waste into the lake, greater interest from the international scientific community is needed to provide evidence to further regulate the industrial development around these great lakes.

Biological contamination of water resources arises from unplanned settlements and associated poor sanitary conditions, as well as the improper disposal of wastes. Many human settlements are established in river catchment areas though many households do not have latrines or pit latrines, resulting in faecal material contaminating the surface and ground water resources. The lack of authority to control sanitary installations and the maintenance of sewer reticulation networks has led to the overflow of septic tanks and sewers (SDNP, 2006).

Dumping in the rivers and lakes, particularly faecal contamination, has contributed to the spread of water borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and bilharzia. Cholera is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality (UNEP, 2016). A study on the Accra metropolitan area in Ghana revealed that the major pollutants into the Densu, Lafa, and Bale rivers and the Gbegbe Lagoon were organic waste and faecal coliforms from runoffs from the municipal landfills or dump sites, together with indiscriminate defecation and refuse disposal into the water systems. This resulted in high levels of biochemical demand in order to purify the water (Nartey et al., 2012).

A considerable problem caused by tourism in Africa is that while some hotels have their own water treatment systems, most of the smaller hotels and restaurants use the natural waterways to dispose of their waste. In addition, tourists generate more solid wastes than locals; with hotels, restaurants, shops, diving and adventure trip organisers all using large amounts of products that come in personal single-use plastic packaging (Quaade, 2018).

2.1.4. Waste dumping and management in Malawi

In Malawi, 22% of the country’s surface area is covered by lakes, rivers, and wetlands. While ground water quality is generally acceptable throughout the country, many surface water sources are polluted or under pressure from deforestation, unsustainable agriculture, settlements, mining, industry, commerce, tourism, and climate change that is causing flooding and droughts (Kandodo, 2017).

Soil erosion caused by deforestation has increased sediment loads into the rivers, altering the directions or restricting the flow of the rivers, and causing flooding and further water pollution. Agricultural chemicals, such as inorganic chemicals, herbicides, and pesticides have also increased nutrient levels in the rivers and lakes, causing the proliferation of algal blooms (Kandodo, 2017). Effluents and solid waste from small and large companies are often dumped into the water bodies in Malawi due to insufficient waste disposal mechanisms. For example, the chemical values in the Lilongwe and Mudi rivers – the main water sources supporting Malawi’s two largest cities – have been measured with contaminants above safe limits. Large populations in informal urban settlements with low access to sanitation facilities also pose a great health risk to the local residents (Kandodo, 2017).

Waste from factories and market sites in Malawi, which mostly remains uncollected by the official garbage collection or recycling system, finds its way into the Lilongwe river whose water is used by vendors for cooking, thus putting the lives of many people at risk. The waste that is dumped into the rivers also has some elements that are harmful to the biodiversity of the ecosystem. Thus, there is need for companies to implement waste treatment systems, rather than dumping directly into the rivers.

Another problem area in Malawi is the Mulanje Mountain, which is affected by the dumping of plastics, such as plastic bags and bottles. These waste items attract pests such as rats and other smaller creatures, which have made the area extremely unhygienic and prone to disease. Additionally, when left in the open, the rain causes the plastics to leach chemicals into the soil, which further infiltrates and contaminates the streams and rivers. Water from Mulanje Mountain, for instance, is utilised by many Malawians; so the pollutants are directly affecting the health of the surrounding populations (Progression, 2018).

Tourism development in Malawi is now also being affected by sewage and solid waste disposal. The Mangochi District Council of Malawi, for instance, does not have a sewage disposal system outside the town area, so holiday resorts have had to construct their own sewage and solid waste disposal systems. Constructing these disposal systems is costly and often unaffordable for the smaller hotels, meaning that this waste often ends up in the surrounding bodies of water, polluting the waterways and posing health hazards to humans and wildlife (Ngochera et al., 2018). Waste in Malawi is also harming the prospects of further tourism, with poor ecological conditions becoming a detractor to any future potential tourists.

2.1.5. Overview of lake Malawi

Lake Malawi is one of the African great lakes, and the southern-most lake in the East African Rift system, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. Covering 19% of Malawi’s total area, it is the fourth-largest fresh water lake in the world by volume, the ninth-largest lake in the world by area, and the third-largest and second-deepest lakes in Africa (Sayer et al., 2019). Home to a wider variety of fish species than any other lake, with at least 700 species of aquatic organisms reported, the Mozambican portion of the lake was officially declared a reserve by the Government of Mozambique, and a portion of the lake in Malawi is included in the Lake Malawi National Park (Sayer et al., 2019).

2.1.6. Waste dumping in Lake Malawi

Chemical contamination is one of the biggest challenges to Lake Malawi, where chemical inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides have caused the death of large amounts of fish in the lake, and this is also posing a threat to human life (SDNP, 2006). Chemical contamination of the stream water feeding into the lake is becoming a common problem due to the improper disposal of industrial waste (Botolo, 2010). For instance, the Ntchila, which was the major commercially-fished species in Lake Malawi in the 1950s, is now threatened with extinction because of the increased levels of water pollution due to agricultural and industrial waste (SDNP, 2006).

Tourism, however, remains the single largest driver of waste dumping into Lake Malawi. Many tourist sites around the lake act as locations for people to be able to interact with nature, which has resulted in numerous businesses arising to support the tourism activities, while providing employment to people from various different backgrounds and professions. Tourists visit Lake Malawi from all over the country, and from other countries, to explore the waters, and to taste the multitude of fish species that reside in the waters. In the process, however, there is a considerable amount of waste produced. Many lodges, hotels, and restaurants, for instance, deposit garbage and human waste into the lake; while many residents from the surrounding villages, such as those employed in the thriving tourism industry, dump food residues, defecate, wash, and bath in the lake. Tourists, too, dump large amounts of plastics and food items that they use into and around the lake.

A scarcity in recent academic literature on the effects that the dumping of waste in and around Lake Malawi is having on tourism, the residents, and the ecology of Lake Malawi, from the perspective of the local inhabitants, has prompted this research. The materials and methods used to determine the implications of waste dumping in the lake are presented next.

3. Materials and methods

This study was performed as a qualitative, exploratory research design. A survey was performed on a sample of individuals presently living or working around Lake Malawi, where 21 questions were asked pertaining to their personal circumstances, and their opinions on the effects and consequences of tourism, waste, and waste dumping into the lake. The respondents were also asked to give their recommendations for improving the situation.

An iterative approach of questioning was employed, with parallels to that of the Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), to find options for improving a situation that was both difficult to define among the participants, and devoid of a single clearly-defined solution. This iterative approach was useful as it helped determine potential steps for improving the situation where no consensus over the roots of the problem existed; or indeed, whether there was even a problem to begin with.

The answers of the respondents were captured qualitatively, in their original wording from the participants, and later coded into overlapping themes and categories, through the principles of content analysis. The themes and categories of codes were then grouped and presented graphically to illustrate any consensus and agreement among the participants, as outlined below in the findings.

4. Findings

4.1. Demographic information of the participants

A sample of 48 participants was gathered for this study, where the majority of the participants (52.1%, n = 25) resided in Chembe Village (22.9%, n = 11), Madothi Village (16.7%, n = 8), and Cape Maclear (12.5%, n = 6). The remaining participants (47.9%, n = 23) resided either in other locations, or did not provide a response in the survey.

The largest group, or one third of the participants, comprised people working as fishermen (33.5%, n = 16) who sold fish to the locals and tourists; while boat operators were the second-most common profession (12.5%, n = 6), with individuals providing transportation along the lake as guides to tourists and residents (see Figure 1). Other types of work included waitresses, tour guides, and small-scale business owners (6.3%, n = 3 each); or students, security guards, chefs, and firewood and fish sellers (4.2%, n = 2 each). Only a very small proportion of the respondents were not engaged in any work-related activities in or around the lake.

Figure 1. Types of work performed by the respondents.

Supporting the findings of the type of work of the participants, the large majority of the participants (93.8%, n = 45) performed their work around the lake; while, in addition, the majority of the participants (62.5%, n = 30) had been living or working around the lake for more than three years, with approximately one third (35.4%, n = 18) having lived or worked around the lake for over 10 years (35.4%). The remaining one third (37.5%) of participants had only recently arrived in the area, in the previous one to two years. This confirmed to the researchers that almost all the participants would have interacted with the lake enough to experience the existence or effects of any waste materials in and/or around the lake.

4.2. The participants’ perceived benefits of tourism to Lake Malawi

The participants proclaimed that numerous aspects of tourism around the lake had enhanced their lives; where the major tourism activities were fishing (54.2%, n = 26) and/or boat riding (45.8%, n = 22), as shown in Figure 2. These activities were said to lead to the need for accommodation (8.3%, n = 4) and swimming-related tourism benefits (35.4%, n = 17). Other tourism-related benefits were derived from the wildlife and game reserves (20.8%, n = 10), and hiking and cultural activities (4.2%, n = 2).

Figure 2. The aspects of tourism that were said to be enhancing life around the lake.

These tourist activities were perceived to be benefitting the region by bringing tourists (31.3%, n = 15), increasing food supply (14.6%, n = 7), and providing a source of income and entertainment (10.4%, n = 5), improving the cleanliness of the surroundings (6.3%, n = 3), and bringing in foreign currency (4.2%, n = 2). Benefits noted in isolation by individual participants (2.1%) included providing business or job opportunities, enhancing sport, and introducing new wildlife species to the region. Additionally, one individual (2.1%) indicated that tourism activities were in fact reducing waste dumping into the lake.

A range of answers was also presented to depict how hotels, lodges, restaurants, and houses had enhanced tourism around the lake. This included providing high-quality accommodation and services (56.3%, n = 27), cleanliness and hospitality (16.7%, n = 8), entertainment (14.6%, n = 7), and a friendly (8.3%, n = 4) and resourceful (2.1%, n = 1) environment for tourists. Only one participant (2.1%) failed to note any benefits that the buildings were having on tourism to the lake.

4.3. The participants’ perceived disadvantages of tourism to Lake Malawi

Next, the study turned to a profiling of the factors that were limiting tourism around the lake, where most of the responses (66.0%, n = 31) related to problems associated with service delivery that were limiting more tourism from occurring. It was noted, for instance, that criminal activities (17.0%, n = 8), expensive facilities (12.8%, n = 6), differences in cultural backgrounds, lack of hospitality, municipality rules, poor security (6.4%, n = 3), poor infrastructure (4.3%, n = 2), dangers of fishing, illegal fishing, and poor weather conditions (2.1%, n = 1) were contributing to a reduction of visitors to the lake.

Only 25.5% (n = 12) of the participants noted that issues with dumping and uncleanliness (14.9%, n = 7), speculation of water diseases (6.4%, n = 3), or water pollution (4.3%, n = 2) were limiting the number of tourists to the lake. Some respondents (8.5%, n = 4) also noted that there were no factors limiting tourism, while one participant (2.1%, n = 1) declined to answer, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Factors that have limited tourism to Lake Malawi.

When asked what was causing waste dumping into and around Lake Malawi, domestic activities were repeated the largest number of times among the respondents (27.1%, n = 13), as shown in Figure 4. These activities were noted to usually include bathing and washing of utensils and clothes in the lake; but also urinating and defecating in the water. A considerable number of the participants (20.8%, n = 10) listed ignorance as the primary cause for waste to be dumped into the lake. Sanitary problems were noted by 10.4% (n = 5) of the respondents; while 10.4% (n = 5) each also noted that the lack of bins and/or dumping sites, wind, and drunk and irresponsible people, were causing waste to end up in the lake.

Figure 4. Primary causes of waste being dumped into Lake Malawi.

When asked specifically about hotels, lodges, restaurants, homes, and tourists, they agreed that these were contributing to waste dumping into the lake such as through directly throwing rubbish into the lake (33.3%, n = 16), and buildings failing to provide bins and/or dumping sites (18.8%, n = 9). Attracting irresponsible tourists to the region, a lack of cooperation, and having no visible rules and regulations were also noted among the respondents (2.1%, n = 1). A notable 14.6% (n = 7) of the respondents argued that they were not contributing any waste to the lake, while 4.2% (n = 2) declined to answer.

The respondents all noted various ways in which the waste in the lake was affecting the life of tourists, residents, and the lake ecology. Particularly pertaining to tourists, it was noted that waste had chased away tourists (25.0%, n = 12), reduced tourist activities (16.7%, n = 8), and reduced swimming and fishing activities (14.6%, n = 18). The respondents noted effects to the residents the most, though, where seven different impact factors were noted (see Figure 5). Lost income (39.9%, n = 19) and negative effects on local businesses (14.6%, n = 7), fishing businesses (6.3%, n = 3), and domestic activities (2.1%, n = 1), were all mentioned by the respondents, while it was also noted that waste was resulting in a loss of jobs (2.1%, n = 1). Eight respondents (16.7%) asserted that residents had been infected by diseases caused by waste in the lake, and six respondents (12.5%) highlighted issues with a lack of clean water.

Figure 5. The impact of waste on tourists, residents and the ecology around Lake Malawi.

There were three different categories of ecology-related factors noted by the respondents, where 27.1% (n = 13) listed how pollution and erosion to the environment had occurred, while the creatures in and around the lake had become prone to diseases (25.0%, n = 12), with animals dying (4.2%, n = 2) as a result of the waste. Only one participant (2.1%) argued that there had been no effect of waste on either the tourists, residents, or ecology; and one participant (2.1%) declined to answer the questions (see Figure 5).

4.4. Changes and recommendations

The final section of the study focused on the respondents’ recommendations for changes to improve the pollution and waste-related circumstances around the lake. Figure 6 shows the recommendations that were given by the various participants; 45.8% stated that the authorities need to introduce a no-dumping campaign, while introducing activities that ensure that the locals and businesses around the lake do not dump waste into the lake.

Figure 6. Recommended changes for improve waste disposal around Lake Malawi.

A smaller proportion of 12.5% (n = 6) of the participants stated that the authorities should provide bins so that waste can be discarded there instead of in the lake; and it was also recommended that strict fishing rules should be introduced, so that only authorised individuals have access to the lake, while also encouraging responsible fishing practices, under municipal supervision.

In line with the iterative nature of a Soft Systems Methodology, the respondents were asked what the likelihood was that the authorities would consider the suggestions given by the respondents. The majority, 54.2% (n = 26) of the participants, stated that there was a high possibility that the authorities would consider the suggestions, while 16.7% (n = 8) and 18.8% (n = 9) stated that the chances the authorities would consider the suggestions were medium and low, respectively. Only two participants (4.2%) asserted that there was ‘no chance’, and three participants (6.3%) declined to answer.

When considering some of the reasons why the authorities would not consider the suggestions, 22.9% (n = 11) of the participants stated that they would not listen because of their own negligence, while 8.3% (n = 4) stated that they did not care, and 16.7% (n = 8) stated that they lacked faith that people could change their waste dumping habits (see Figure 7). The participants (12.5%, n = 6) also argued that some officials working for the authorities had conflict of interest as they benefitted from illegal activities around the lake, such as through bribery; while economic reasons (6.3%, n = 3), lack of funding (4.2%, n = 2), and undervaluing people’s views (2.1%, n = 1) were also noted as reasons by the respondents.

Figure 7. Reasons why the authorities would not likely consider the participants’ suggestions.

Figure 8 shows what the participants thought the next steps should be, if the authorities did not consider their suggestions. There was consensus among 39.6% (n = 19) of the participants that they would take full responsibility themselves, if the authorities did not consider their suggestions, to ensure that the places around the lake were clean, and to ensure that others did not dump waste into the lake. Some of the participants (20.8%, n = 10) also recommended educating the villagers about the dangers of dumping domestic waste into the lake, and attempting to change their habits of washing, bathing, urinating, and defecating in the lake.

Figure 8. Next steps to take if suggestions are not implemented.

A total of 10.4% and 8.3% of respondents argued that they would ask the local leadership to intervene, or escalate the matter with the help of other organisations, respectively – although no follow up questions were asked to determine how serious the respondents were about actually enforcing such steps. As many as six respondents (12.5%) stated that they would do nothing, with one respondent noting that they would accept the status quo.

5. Discussion

Waste dumping affects many different parties, including aquatic species, birds and wildlife, human communities, and the government. Water is a fundamental element for all of these, and when toxic waste harms one organism, it can end up destroying an entire ecosystem (Espinoza et al., 2014). Non bio-degradable materials such as plastic have severe negative outcomes on birds and wildlife that inadvertently consume the materials, as well as the chemicals that leach into the surrounding environments. The ecological and human communities around the lake are also highly affected by pesticides, chemicals, and heavy metals that leak into the rivers and the lake from industrial processes, causing illnesses and death of both wildlife and people (Mrozińska & Bąkowska, 2020).

Dumping waste in lakes is clearly problematic, causing pollution and threatening marine ecosystems. This was acknowledged by a large proportion of the Lake Malawi participants surveyed here (Jamu, et al., 2011). However, dumping waste also has perceived advantages to many individuals, or they simply would not do it. Information which came as new knowledge when conducting this research was that waste dumping into the lake was not seen as a problem by a considerable number of the local participants. Yet, in reality, people who engage in such practices are just externalising the costs (Wilson, 2014). For instance, the locals around Lake Malawi depend on the lake as a source of food, and as a way of earning a living through selling the fish and through tourism-related activities. Therefore, contamination from waste disposal would cause numerous health and environmental costs to the local communities.

This has been supported in the literature, where waste dumping affects the society at large with water borne diseases (Sunlu, 2003). When water in the lake is contaminated, people who drink it suffer from diseases that also affect the government, which must now finance the public healthcare facilities for patients to be treated. The government could also incur considerable financial costs when attempting to clean up the waste. Moreover, the people lose income as fewer tourists visit those areas that are known to be polluted or dirty. These are typical examples of externalised costs, which many people involved in waste dumping do not seem to consider.

Residents, however, are not the only source of waste being dumped into the lake. From the literature reviewed, it is clear that the hotels, restaurants, and lodges dump the most waste into the lake, since it is often the most cost-efficient way of managing the waste produced during their daily routines. Again, this is a case of externalising costs, and a sign of poor corporate governance.

The largest concentration of tourist destinations on Lake Malawi are along the lakeshore, such as in Karonga, Rumphi, Nkhata-Bay, Nkhotakota, Salima and Mangochi. The single-most important concern with regards to the hospitality industry is solid waste and effluent disposal. With the high concentration of hotels and lodges along the shore, the most cost-efficient option for the disposal of effluent is to dump it into the lake; while the absence of proper sewage systems in the rural tourist areas also forces most facilities to resort to using septic tanks that can over-fill and spill into the lake (Laisi, 2010). This corroborates the Sri Lankan experience of hotel waste dumps(Senaratne, 2012). The release of effluent is resulting in the overgrowth of algae due to the high levels of nitrates: a satellite view of the waters of Lake Malawi – even as far back as 2001, shows alarming changes in water quality (Laisi, 2010).

The magnitude of the problem was emphasised during this study. Tourism is a significant creator of jobs and livelihoods for locals around Lake Malawi; the participants claimed that numerous aspects of tourism around the lake had enhanced their lives; where the major tourism activities were fishing and/or boat riding, accommodation, swimming, wildlife viewing, hiking and cultural activities. In addition, these were perceived to be benefitting the region by bringing tourists, increasing the food supply, providing a source of income and entertainment, improving the cleanliness of the surroundings, bringing in foreign currency, providing business or job opportunities, enhancing sport, and introducing new wildlife species to the region.

In spite of this, however, the study found that one quarter of the participants criticised waste dumping and uncleanliness, diseases, or water pollution for limiting the amount of tourists to the lake. While this may, initially, have seemed to be a relatively low percentage of the overall sample, it is argued that much of the problem stems from societal indifference. For instance, contrary to the understanding of some residents, numerous locals felt that the lake was part of their lives, giving them water to bathe in, wash dishes and utensils and for ablution purposes.

It was also argued that due to the congestion of toilets, people are left with no alternative but to use the lake for their ablutions. When justifying their stance, some participants argued that the water is not stagnant, as it flows away; hence, taking the waste with it. This emphasises the sense of being isolated from the problem; and that since the participants were no longer in the immediate presence of their waste, it ceased to exist.

In areas with high concentration of tourist activities and with appealing natural attractions, waste disposal is a serious problem; improper disposal can be a major despoiler of the natural environment (Srinivas, 2001). Hotels that are situated in and around the vicinity of the lake are creating major environmental problems by dumping their waste into the lake. Compounding the issue is that an increase in fishing efforts and declining catch rates have led to increased use of inappropriate fishing methods. Increasing agricultural pressure from the growing population in the catchment areas, and subsequent land degradation, have also led to the drainage of sediments into the lake, resulting in a decline in the populations of fish whose habitat and spawning grounds have been lost (SDNP, 2006).

6. Conclusions and recommendations for improvement

Tourism is a significant source of jobs and livelihoods for locals around Lake Malawi. This study found that numerous aspects of tourism around the lake are enhancing people’s lives, primarily from fishing and/or boat riding, accommodation, swimming, wildlife viewing, hiking, and cultural activities. These are benefitting the region by increasing the food supply, providing a source of income and entertainment, improving the cleanliness of the surroundings, bringing in foreign currency, providing business or job opportunities, enhancing sport, and introducing new wildlife species to the region.

This paper argues, however, that waste dumping into Lake Malawi is having a considerable negative impact on tourism. Because of waste dumping, many potential tourists have shied away from visiting the lake shores, affecting the income for business owners and the tourism industry in general. This study found a consensus among one quarter of the participants that waste dumping and uncleanliness, diseases, and/or water pollution were limiting the amount of tourism to the lake. The relatively small degree of participant consensus on the matter is largely attributed to societal indifference, where numerous locals felt that the lake was part of their lives, giving them water to bathe in, wash dishes and utensils, and for ablution purposes. Some participants also argued that the water is not stagnant, as it flows away; hence, taking the wastes with it – suggesting a sense of being isolated from the problem.

Yet, this indifference neither excuses nor alleviates the problem: most of the holiday resorts use water from the lake for their day-to-day activities, where the water is used for cooking, drinking, washing, and entertainment (Dilevics, 2014). The closing of commercial fishing areas due to sewage contamination is also known to lead to significant income losses (Hubbs, 1933). On the other hand, clean waterways have many advantages for humans and commercial farms, as well as for wildlife, as they are safe for the public; and they encourage tourists to visit, thereby improving the local economy.

It is argued, then, that the issue with waste dumping into Lake Malawi is both an urgent and severe problem, with considerable implications for tourism in the area. In order to improve the situation, there are various avenues that could be explored. According to the literature reviewed, many business owners around waterways in other countries have engaged in no-dumping campaigns to ensure that they reduce or entirely remove the sources of the waste. In this study, too, a no-dumping campaign was suggested by various participants, while education systems were recommended so that business owners could learn how to manage waste dumping practices into the lake. This could be taken as a lesson for the tourist centres around Lake Malawi: to take responsibility for ensuring that the lake remains a desirable tourist attraction, with sustainable economic benefits. This should be done to ensure that the lake does not continue to devolve into a place that deters people from visiting, because waste dumping has made it unhygienic.

Proper waste management systems ensure a healthy environment, and no society can develop healthily, when there is no proper waste management system. The Malawian Government should, therefore, as a matter of urgency, implement sanitation policies to ensure that those who live and conduct business in and around the lake keep the environment clean through compulsory clean-up exercises before and after conducting their activities.

The citizens should also cooperate with the government by making sure that they do not dispose of their refuse indiscriminately; but rather, dispose it into refuse bins where it can be collected and treated in a manner that will not be hazardous to human and ecological health. The government could also train sanitation personnel to be posted in and around the lake, to ensure compliance with waste management policies. Implementing these actions would help to maximise the full economic potential of Lake Malawi, for the betterment of all who visit, work, and reside there.

Acknowledgements

We like to thank all the chiefs in Chembe village for allowing us to interview their people for our study purposes. The hotels owners, stuff and department of agriculture officials at Cape Maclear for all the input they gave us. Lastly we would love to acknowledge all the University authorities and students for their unreserved support for this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).