The Sunday Mail
Freedom Mupanedemo
Midlands Bureau
FIRST Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, who is patron of the environment, has called upon traditional leaders to ensure forests in their jurisdictions are preserved if the country is to mitigate the effects of climate change and achieve Vision 2030, which is premised on establishing a prosperous upper middle-income economy.
Speaking during a Tree Planting Day commemorative event held at Gwenyika Primary School in Gokwe South, Dr Mnangagwa, who was represented by ZANU PF Deputy Secretary for Environment in the Politburo and Chimanimani East legislator Mr Joshua Sacco, said traditional leaders and schools should take an active role in planting more trees.
The First Lady said Zimbabwe is targeting to plant over 1,5 million trees in the Midlands province only during the current tree-planting season.
“Good vegetation helps mitigate climate change, hence we must avoid wanton cutting down of trees. Our traditional leaders should help in making sure that the forests in their areas are preserved,” she said.
Traditional leaders, Dr Mnangagwa said, should guard against illegal settlements, which could cause deforestation.
Many women are making a living by processing and selling fruits from trees, hence the need to plant more trees, added the First Lady.
“This is how important our trees are; even the water underground where we sink boreholes, we quickly get to the water table when we have trees around.
“We also get to protect our properties like houses; they don’t get exposed to strong winds when there are trees around,” she said.
Part of the crowd that attended the tree planting event organised by First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa in Gokwe
Dr Mnangagwa said schools should also take the initiative and encourage learners to be responsible and plant trees.
“Our schools should work with the Forestry Commission and make sure they also take part in planting trees every now and then so that we maintain a green and healthy environment,” she said.
Chief Chireya of Gokwe North commended Dr Mnangagwa for her tree-planting initiatives, saying they were helping prevent soil erosion in his area, which has little vegetation.
“In Gokwe North, we have gullies all over and this is because we have no vegetation. The initiative by our mother will go a long way in mitigating this challenge, as we will be encouraging our subjects to plant trees,” he said.
During this year’s tree-planting season, the Forestry Commission is targeting to plant at least 1,5 million trees in the Midlands province.
Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu, who was represented by Professor Prosper Matondi, the chief director for environment, climate and meteorological services, said the ministry was poised to surpass the over 1,5 million new trees target, driven by the First Lady’s energy and drive to green the nation.
Learners from Gwenyaya Primary School plant trees during a tree planting campaign initiated by First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa
“As a ministry, we are privileged to have you, our First Lady, committed to be the frontrunner in the tree planting and forestry conservation campaign for the past five years.
“For this season, you have played a significant role in raising awareness and promoting conservation of forests and trees across the nation.
“Your efforts have not been in vain because tree planting has taken centre stage in many development programmes in the country, and we thank you for that effort,” he said.
Minister Ndlovu said the Agric4She programme initiated by Dr Mnangagwa was also helping in forestry and tree conservation.
A villager, Miss Loveness Maketo, said the First Lady’s Agric4She programme, which also encourages the planting of trees, was helping women come up with life-changing projects.
Miss Maketo said she and other women in her village had formed a club that concentrates on planting fruit trees.
“Very soon, we will be reaping fruits from the orchard.
“We were provided with all types of fruit trees by the First Lady and our orchard is thriving,” she said.
