The Sunday Mail
What manner of man is this that nothing escapes his command?
Politics and even matters scientific all fit perfectly into his palm, allowing him to speak eloquently and with authority on just about anything.
This thought formed distinctly in the minds of delegates to Zanu-PF’s 15th Annual National People’s Conference in Victoria Falls as President Mugabe delivered his opening address.
That the President spoke on his forte — politics and the economy — was not the issue.
It was his command and articulation of the science behind climate change that had a good many delegates marvelling, awe-struck by the man’s intellectual prowess.
President Mugabe was in fettle. He deconstructed factionalism, tore into the corrupt, and deftly handled matters of empowerment and broad economic transformation.
And on food security, he removed his President’s hat and put on his teaching cap, turning the packed marquee into his classroom.
In another lifetime, in the 1950s, President Mugabe was a teacher. And so it is not surprising that he often assumes the posture of lecturer speaking to students, drawing on his vast experience of the world and impeccable intellect. Climate change — a complex subject comprising a mass of befuddling data — continues to cause consternation as weather patterns transform and seasons shift.
As such, food security has remained uncertain in most parts of Africa.
Many people are now vaguely aware of the phenomenon, but do not understand its causes and implications.
The teacher President Mugabe decided to remove some of the cobwebs.
“There was a meeting in France on the weather and climate, and that meeting was a very serious one,” he began.
“It was to remind us of the weather, that climate change is real. That whereas some places are running dry, others are getting too much water and countries that were few metres above sea level, especially some islands, are being threatened.
“Now, these are going to be drowned soon or later, being covered in water. In our own case, the case of Africa, south of the Sahara, is the loss of our forests. (Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri was putting it in simple language for the people).”
He continued: “We are planting trees and the trees have the ability to release carbon which goes into the atmosphere. They also absorb carbon. At night they release carbon, but during the day, the trees absorb carbon. So, tikadyara miti yakawanda, zvinotibatsira kubvisa, tingati, hutsi husingaonekwe hunokwidibira kumusoro uko hwokonzera kuti mvura isanaye.
“Gas iye inobuda nechipombi chiye chemota icarbon monoxide. Inenge ichienda kupi? Inobuda mumota ende (imwe) yakadaro inobuda mumafactory ichienda mudenga; ndihwo hutsi ihohoho, hwotadzisa mvura kuti inaye.
“Now, trees have the ability to absorb that carbon during the day, but even at night, they say, flowers should not be indoors, remove them because they will be doing the opposite. That carbon will be released at night, but during the day, no.”
He also said, “So, let us protect the trees; plant more trees because they are now few. Let us plant more trees. Cutting down trees? Let us not be in the habit of cutting down trees. When you go, now, to the rural areas, we say people should not cut down trees, but where do they get firewood?
“That is why we say if we electrify most areas, it will help reduce the cutting down of trees. Introducing solar in our system would help. Solar is much cleaner than other sources of electricity, than other sources such as thermal.
“Yatinowana mumvura, hydro-electricity iyo iri cleaner, but yethermal, yatinowana mumarasha yakangofananawo nemota dzinotutira gas kudenga uko, nemafactory, zvichikonzera kusanaya kwemvura.”
