By Decide Nhendo
A Bikita West chief is embarking on environmental preservation practices, escalating his role as a traditional leader in sustainable environment management.
Acting Chief Marozva, real name Ishmael Mude said he was engaging communities while monitoring their activities to make sure that they were not practicing activities that do not harm the environment.
Mude said they were clearing the invasive lantana cammara bushes threatening other natural plants in the district.
“We have started cutting down Lantana Camarra since it is affecting our crops because it is increasing in the area as well as promoting awareness on its challenges to the environment.
“We are also educating the people that trees are important, if we cut them haphazardly it will worsen the climate crisis because grass and trees will no longer be there to stop soil erosion.
“We also have a challenge with people who are cutting down trees to make money at the growth point and Bikita Minerals, even though we tell them that it is illegal, the challenge persists,” Marozva said.
He added that they were fining those found cutting down trees though the fines were too low, with little correctional impact as people were not feeling the pain hence they continue committing the crime at the expense of the environment.
“Eeven though we caution people against cutting trees, they still do so because the fines are too little and they can simply cover the fines from the cash they are getting from selling firewood,” said Marozva.
He also urged local people to keep on doing green community gardens where they produce food for sustenance in the face of El Nino, countering the climate crisis.
“I encourage all the people in Marozva to take initiatives like green gardens because they will be able to produce food like green vegetables, onions, and tomatoes to sell so they can fend for their families,” he said.
