WINDHOEK, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Namibia will effectively ban the usage of plastic bags by 2022 in a drive to safeguard environment and also cut down on pollution , the Minister of Environment and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta said Thursday.

Shifeta said plastics have become an eyesore to the country's environment affecting the ecosystem.

He added that the proposed levy on plastic bags on all consumers is a temporal measure to mitigate the impact of plastics on our environment but ultimately Namibia wishes to ban plastics completely in three years.

Shifeta said the Ministry is in consultation with the sector and relevant stakeholders to ensure that by then an alternative to plastics may be found especially for plastic producers in the country.