ZNA lauds Govt on tree planting efforts

THE Zimbabwe National Army has applauded the Government for coming up with programmes that spearhead planting of trees which are aimed at mitigating dangers that are being posed by climate change.

Acting Commander 1 Infantry Brigade Colonel Simo Maseko said this during the handover of 1 500 indigenous tree seedling to establish a tree nursery as well as planting of 85 trees by the Environment Ambassador Mr Never Bonde on Thursday at Imbizo Barracks.

“It is our desire to make Induna Barracks the epicentre of conservancy in the region. The nursery that has been established will be the forerunner of similar projects to be initiated in other camps under 1 Infantry Brigade,” he said.

The event was held ahead of National Tree Planting many followers of the event who thought the judges were intending to rig the pageant.

However, it was the crucial question and answer Day which is held on the first Saturday of December every year. Col Maseko said he hoped the established nursery will grow both in size and diversity to meet the demand of trees needed in Bulawayo and the region at large.

He said nurturing trees was not a new phenomenon to the ZNA as the camp is abundant with different plant species. Speaking during the tree planting exercise, Mr Bonde said ZNA is the first Government institution this year to be given trees and expressed hope that the trees will be well taken care of.

Mr Bonde is a Cowdray Park resident who was appointed by Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Cde Oppah Muchunguri -Kashiri in June this year after noticing his keenness in nature conservation.

“The nursery that we established today will be well taken care of and it will help in distributing and planting more trees because it will be left in good hands and am assured that the trees we planted today will grow as they will be well taken care of and my wish is that ZNA supplies the trees to neighbouring communities like Sigola,” said Mr Bonde.

He has managed to plant and distribute more than 5 000 indigenous trees throughout the country.