Mhundwa villagers turn into greening champions

15 Jan, 2023 - 00:01 0 Views
Mhundwa villagers turn into greening champions

The Sunday Mail

Tendai Chara

IF Zimpapers, under its greening campaign, is to introduce an award category in which communities that are excelling in greening and re-greening their environments are rewarded, Mhundwa village would stand a very good chance of winning.

Located on the periphery of Harare’s dormitory town of Chitungwiza, near Makoni Shopping Centre, Mhundwa village is a perfect example of how urban and peri-urban communities can come together and collectively protect the environment.

At a time when some people in most peri-urban settlements across the country are illegally parcelling out land and destroying the environment by cutting down trees for firewood and extracting sand, Mhundwa villagers are different.

They are not involved in such activities. They have, instead, initiated an ambitious conservation programme that is set to change the face of Chitungwiza.

The community has stepped up efforts to set up the Mhundwa Recreational Park, a project that will not only conserve the environment but will also create employment for scores of local people.

Village head Mr Thomas Shambare, the brains behind the initiative, attributed the birth of this project to his passion for re-greening the environment.

“We had an unfortunate incident in which scores of people invaded unoccupied pieces of land and caused massive land degradation. As a person who is passionate about the environment, I made sure we got back our land and replanted some trees,” Mr Shambare said.

When the land invaders descended on the village, they cut down trees and caused massive deforestation.

“My heart bled when I witnessed a prime forest area being reduced to a semi desert. This prompted my subjects and I to start this project to guard against deforestation and land degradation,” said Mr Shambare.

Under this eco-tourism project, chalets, conference halls and braaing areas will be constructed around Harava Dam.

Fishing and boat cruising will be introduced in the recreational park.

The community recently pooled resources, and began constructing a culture centre.

The area has many historical sites, among them sacred underground tunnels, caves and rock paintings.

The grave of Rwizi, a famed aide of the revered spirit medium Chaminuka, is located in the village.

A historical underground tunnel in which the locals would retreat during raids is a potential star tourist attraction.

Caves that are adorned with rock paintings, and several balancing rock formations make this area picturesque and appealing.

Mr Nicholas Mhundwa (78), a brother of the village head and a keen traditionalist, spoke passionately about the benefits of the project.

“We have sacred places such as Rwizi’s grave that were being desecrated. I love trees and watching this area being turned into a desert was a painful thing,” Mr Mhundwa said.

A local spirit medium, Gogo Mamoyo (born Letwin Manguwo), was given guardianship of Rwizi’s grave after members of an apostolic sect desecrated it.

Gogo Mamoyo, like the other villagers, is excited about the project.

“I have a passion for teaching young people about our heritage. I will be taking time off my busy schedule to conduct free traditional lessons. Among other things, I will show visitors how to play the mbira and how to cook traditional foods,” Gogo Mamoyo said.

Mr Evans Musitu, who is co-ordinating the project, is optimistic that the community’s dream will come true.

“Mark my words, in two years, we are going to transform this area from a seemingly neglected forest into a prime recreational and tourist destination,” Mr Musitu said.

He said apart from conserving the environment, the project will also create employment opportunities for the locals, especially youths.

“This project is a game changer. As you can see, neighbouring villagers are busy illegally parcelling out land and destroying their heritage. In stark contrast, we are creating a facility that will benefit future generations,” said Mr Musitu.

Other resort areas that are in the vicinity are the Mbizi Game Park, the Dam View and Leisure Centre.

Mr Musitu is optimistic that by August this year, Mhundwa village would have been transformed.

“We started from scratch and we are facing some financial constraints. Failure is, however, not an option. The recreational park will become a reality come what may,” vowed Mr Musitu.

For saving more than 10 hectares of prime forest land from marauding land invaders and wood poachers, the Mhundwa villagers are, without question, greening champions.

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