Local authorities and other stakeholders should collaborate and pool resources to enhance sustainable environmental management, Matabeleland South Minister of State Provincial Affairs and Devolution Abednico Ncube has said.
In a speech read on his behalf by the director for Economic Development Mr Richmond Ncube in Beitbridge, Minister Ncube said activities such as promoting recycling, tree planting, and clean ups were critical in transforming the communities’ mind-set on environmental management issues.
Besides creating a safe and clean environment the partnerships would help integrate rural homes and small farmers directly into the mainstream economic activities.
The event also coincided with the first national clean-up held at the same business centre and planting of 200 trees (mostly fruit trees) around the district. Trees were supplied by the Forestry Commission.
The Step Your Mind Cross Country Civic Society Transformation initiative involved the 945 km walkathon led by former Olympian and Paralympic champion Mr Elliot Mujaji.
Other team members were environmental enthusiasts, former permanent secretary Engineer Sam Kundishora, Ben Bones and Phillip Bvekwa.
The quartet walked through part of the Trans-Africa Highway from Chirundu Border Post to Beitbridge Border Post over 34 days raising awareness on environmental management and promoting road safety along country’s road network.
“It is important that local authorities, communities and the many stakeholders around them collaborate and embrace our environmental policies which will are not only meant to transform hundreds of lives but will also see many of them contributing into the growth of our national economy,” said Minister Ncube.
“This Step Your Mind Cross Country Campaign is one of the many collective efforts that promotes the commercialisation of rural homes at the same time ensuring we live in a clean and safe environment.
“Such an effort is commendable since it will seek to pilot and drive the integration of rural homes and smallholders’ farmers directly into the main stream economic activities.
“It would promote financial inclusion as well as turn rural communities into formal production units”.
He said there are many opportunities which Zimbabweans may explore in the management of the environment and turn around their lives in line with the envisaged Vision 2030.
Walkathon leader Mr Mujaji said they had decided to start the initiative to get more Zimbabweans acting to save the environment. They received a lot of support and were happy with the uptake of the idea in all the areas they had walked through.
“We have taken the first steps and we call upon Zimbabweans to embrace the idea which has a number of spin offs from recycling of waste, fruit tree planting, and the greening of communities, the highways and towns among other things,” said Mr Mujaji.
“Along the way we plant a lot of trees, cleaned up towns and engaged motorists on the need to drive safely and save lives on the Pan African Highway and in general the country’s road network”.
Beitbridge East legislator Cde Albert Nguluvhe said it was critical for traditional leaders to play an active role on the management of the environment.
Rampant cutting down of trees for firewood in villages just outside Beitbridge town had become worrisome and hence a collective effort was necessary to stop the vice.
The Environment Management Agency head for Beitbridge Mrs Nompumelelo Chigwinya said already the agency was working in partnership to promote the separation of waste at source and creation of community recycling clubs. – The Herald
