First Lady Gertrude Mutharika has said the manner in which Malawians dispose of used condoms and diapers, among other waste, is a concern that should be addressed urgently. Mutharika expressed the concern yesterday in Lilongwe when she engaged residents of the city’s areas 47 and 18 in clearing their surroundings of waste. The exercise was part of the programmes lined up by the Gertrude Mutharika Beautify Malawi (Beam) Trust. Said the First Lady: “If we can learn to keep our surroundings clean, it will be easy for us to keep our entire cities clean.” In his remarks, Lilongwe City mayor Willie Chapondera urged the city’s dwellers to emulate the example set by Beam, saying “ensuring that the city remains clean is everybody’s responsibility”. The picture shows Mutharika joined by residents in the sweeping exercise. —REBECCA CHIMJEKA, Staff Reporter