Minister plants trees at former primary school
COMMUNITIES in the country have been urged to plant trees as part of efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change whose devastating nature to people’s lives, infrastructure and the environment requires everyone to put their hands on the deck.
Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Cde Nqobizitha Ndlovu said on Thursday climate change was a new reality that needed communities to employ strategies that minimise its effects.
The minister retraced his footsteps to Insukamini Primary School in Njube, Bulawayo where he did his primary education and took time to interact and inspire learners through a tree planting programme. The event was organised by Forest Lovers in partnership with Zimpapers, Unifreight and Forestry Commission which are conducting various tree planting campaigns around the country. These include the “Every child a tree” as well as the “Trees for tourism” programmes.
Speaking at the occasion conducted on the sidelines of the Sanganai/Hlanganani tourism expo which ended in the city yesterday, Minister Ndlovu said tree planting remained one of the important programmes which tourists should value and uphold.
“Forest Lovers requested me that during the Sanganai/ Hlanganani tourism expo I partake in one of their tree planting programmes and I persuaded them that I wanted to do the programme at my former school. As such let me encourage people that as they go back where they come from and interact with others, they should remember that planting trees should be the responsibility of everyone as we all want to sustain our environment. The importance of having this programme alongside the Sanganai/Hlanganani is to highlight to our tourism players that we all have a responsibility to take care of our environment more importantly looking at the impact this has in combating climate change, helping mitigate the effects of climate change,” said Minister Ndlovu.
The minister who attended Insukamini Primary School shared memories of his school days in the presence of his former classmates, drawing laughter from the audience.
“We are here to give you inspiration so that when you become lawyers, Members of Parliament, doctors or even presidents you should not forget where you come from. You are here working with your teachers because they are shaping your tomorrow. So, I have come back here because I was here for seven years. I have, however, grown up today to be a minister and it shows that you can also do it. There is no special school for Cabinet ministers, doctors or any other professions, we all came through here,” said Minister Ndlovu.
He challenged the pupils to cultivate a culture of planting trees.
“Now as you might know that we are faced with climate change problems, we need to plant more trees. These trees will help us protect the environment so that our grandchildren will manage to find the earth habitable. We should ensure that we do not only plant fruit trees but wind breakers as well because we now have violent weather patterns which can destroy infrastructure if not managed,” said Minister Ndlovu.
Speaking on behalf of Forest Lovers, Mr Blessing Dzenga said it was their desire to have every child planting a tree nationwide.
“We are carrying out a nationwide programme to plant trees countrywide under the ‘Every child a tree,’ programme. Today we came through under the ‘Trees for tourism’ programme that supports and emphasise the need for trees in the tourism industry. We want to thank Shearwater for donating 76 trees that will be planted by children here at Insukamini and Hugh Beadle Primary schools,” said Mr Dzenga
The minister then proceeded to Hugh Beadle Primary School where he carried out a similar tree planting programme. @nyeve14