THE Chirumhanzu community has complemented the Government’s efforts to combat climate change through planting trees.
Hundreds of people on Wednesday thronged Nyautongi primary and secondary schools where they planted 1 000 ornamental and fruit trees.
The tree planting initiative was being led by Deputy Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi.
Deputy Minister is also the Member of Parliament for Chirumhanzu Constituency.
The event ran under the theme, “Trees and forestry for ecosystem resilience and improved livelihoods”.
It saw the planting of palm trees, avocados, mangos, gum trees and pine trees, and some trees were donated to the community.
Deputy minister Rwodzi said the constituency has a target of planting 50 000 trees during this year’s tree planting season.
“Trees provide many benefits every day,” she said.
“So we came here today to Chirumhanzu to educate people that trees are life, trees are our bushes, our bushes are our food and the future of generations to come.
“People know and they understand that they are not supposed to cut trees but what do they do when there is no replacement? In rural areas, they cut down trees for firewood, building and other purposes but they do not have a replacement to that.
“They have an understanding through the traditional leadership that they are not supposed to cut trees, but without us coming to the ground to give them trees and to educate them more, we are not going to have more trees as we desire as a country that is also suffering repercussions of climate change.”
Deputy Minister Rwodzi believes the Chirumhanzu community understands the importance of planting trees and their contribution to combating climate change.
Local authorities were urged to engage communities in a massive reforestation drive to conserve the environment, which has been seriously affected by human activities.
Chief Chirumhanzu thanked Deputy Minister Rwodzi for donating trees and educating the community on the importance of growing trees.
“I would like to urge the community to work with your village heads in growing trees. If you grow a tree, you have built your nation so let us build our nation together because when there are no trees there is no life,” he said.
The colourful event was attended by Forestry Commission board member Professor Munashe Shoko and the organisation’s deputy director-general Mr Steven Zingwena, among others. – The Herald
