Expert says chemical management vital

NELLY MTEMA in Dodoma

THE Government Chemist Laboratory Authority (GCLA) has stressed a need for proper chemical management to avoid environmental and health hazards.

Speaking during the closing of a chemical management special training workshop for University of

Dodoma (Udom) mineral processing and engineering students yesterday, the Chief Government Chemist, Dr Fidelice Mafumiko, said there was a need for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between his office and Udom so that the final year Earth Sciences students could be given a special dossier on chemical management.

“You are done with your degree studies, I believe, in your respective fields in one way or another, you will be dealing with chemicals. Thus, having a special dossier on proper chemical management, I believe, you will be our good ambassadors,” he noted.

He said chemical management was very important and his office had been using all means possible apart from awareness raising and training. He pointed out that stiff penalties were also imposed on violators of rules and procedures.

Dr Mafumiko said with the increasing number of industries in the country, it was obvious that chemical management was unavoidable, thus its safe and proper use was of paramount importance. He commended students, who came up with proposals for such training and made it real.

Earlier, College of Earth Sciences (CoES) Principal, Prof William Mwigoha, apart from thanking the GCLA for the training workshop, said there was a need to sustain proper chemical management as the country embarked on the industrial economy.

“This training imparts knowledge and skills to students and this helps them to add more knowledge and professionalism to what they have done with their studies,” he stressed. In a vote of thanks, one of the students, Mr Hemed Omary, said the workshop was an eye opener for them and they enjoyed it very much.

“It has equipped us with the best knowledge on chemical management and legal aspects and we will be good ambassadors by putting what we have learned into practice,” he said.