Zanu-PF youth walkathon campaign halfway through

HUNDREDS of Zanu-PF youths who are taking part in the 467km Harare to Esigodini tree planting walkathon campaign completed half their journey on Sunday when they arrived in Gweru.

They are expected to arrive in Bulawayo today.

Over 200 youths drawn from the country’s 10 provinces are taking part in the walkathon in solidarity with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s call for Zimbabweans to plant over 15 million trees countrywide in recognition of the National Tree Planting Day.

The youths, who are being led by Zanu-PF director for environment and tourism Cde Steward Mutizwa left Harare on foot on December 5 and are expected to reach Esigodini (this year’s venue for Zanu-PF’s People Conference) on Wednesday.

In an interview, Cde Mutizwa said the journey has been bearing fruit as the jovial youths were embarking on clean-up campaigns and planting trees in every city and town they pass through.

“We left Harare on December 5 after a send-off by the President and we slept in Norton where we planted trees and conducted some clean-up campaigns. We then left for Chegutu and arrived there on December 6. From Chegutu we went to Kadoma, then to Kwekwe and we are now in Gweru.

“We have been meeting locals, preaching President Mnangawa’s vision, urging them to always clean their areas. We have been taking part in planting trees,” he said.

Cde Mutizwa said all the participating youths were very jovial and were raring to go.

He said they have not encountered any incidences during their solidarity walk and they were confident they will reach their destination on time.

“We are now in Shangani and we are expecting to reach Bulawayo tomorrow (today) where we will conduct some clean-up campaigns there.

We will be reaching Esigodini on Wednesday and we expect to be welcomed by our President as we push for his vision to plant more trees.

“The President will also present us with certificates for completing 476 journey on foot,” he said.

Cde Mutizwa said the youths were also endorsing President Mnangagwa as the sole candidate for the 2023 elections.