Tinaani Nyabereka
Shurugwi- A Midlands-based women’s organisation Women in Communities (WiCo) in partnership with Nyaradzo Group last week embarked on a community re-greening drive by encouraging community to safeguard the environment through tree planting.
The initiative took place in Tongogara at Mpangayi village under the programme ‘Supporting the resilience of vulnerable populations to economic and climate challenges’ at Jaradeni gardening centre ,where the community is currently embarking on a bee keeping project and horticulture.
The re-greening of rural communities comes at a time when the 2022 World Environment Day celebrations held on June 5 under the theme ’Only One Earth-Living Sustainably in harmony with nature’ highlighted need for citizens to live in harmony with nature by bringing transformative changes through policies and choices towards cleaner and greener lifestyles.
Speaking on the side lines of the event, WiCo Executive Director Rebecca Chirenga said the planting of trees was supposed to be done religiously in response to climate change effects.
“In response to climate change effects, it is always important to plant trees to avoid the desertification of our communities as well as reduce the effects of carbon emissions in the atmosphere. We are living in an environment which is now heavily manifested by industrial and mining activities.
“The tree planting programme is complementing the bee keeping project which the Mpangayi community is doing here. The project was initiated by WiCo through the help of our partners that is the French Embassy in Zimbabwe. The project is meant to help community in poverty alleviation through the production of honey which will be sold to generate revenue.
“We chose the bee project because we saw market for honey is high and it’s needed for the production of various products for health purposes. So these trees we are planting today are meant to enhance the pollination process as they are fruit trees. We all know that for bees to do well, they need a shady and blooming environment,” she said.
Nyaradzo Group, Gweru Branch Manager Justin Nyakunu said it was always good to conscentize the public on importance of re-greening communities.
“Our partnership with WiCo comes at a time when we see the need to educate people to live in harmony with the nature as trees are important for the welfare of humans. Besides enhancing the gardening project which is here at Jaradeni, as Nyaradzo we are also a very good friend of the environment as we are into the business of giving our relatives and loved ones a decent sent off.
“So because of that, we have a number of products that come from trees which include coffins and caskets. We find it crucial to have such programmes in our communities. We are who we are as Nyaradzo because of the community and environment we live in. Tress are very useful as we use them almost on daily basis that is the firewood, furniture, the list is endless. This then calls for every individual to play an active role in replacing a tree daily anywhere.
“This comes as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility whereby we are also giving back to the community by donating and planting trees together with them. We are happy to see women leading the process as we strive to see an empowered mother who looks after the family and community at large,” said Nyakunu.
Jaradeni project vice chairperson who is also Mpangayi village head Samson Takaedza however expressed gratitude to the partners saying the bee keeping initiative was going to bring further development in the area.
“Knowledge is power and today we have been given power by our partners Nyaradzo as we now know how best we can safeguard our forests. This is good because even animals cannot survive in a bad environment. For bees to do well, they need more of fruit and shady trees.
“Here at Jaradeni we managed to get 30 beehives, as I am speaking about four hives now have bees inside. This project is not only focused on revenue generation, rather it seeks to curb hunger as well since we are into horticulture again.
“We grow a number of vegetables which are tomatoes, covo, cabbages, spinach, maize, carrots, beans and peas to mention a few. We sell some of the produce for our sustainability as families because we harvest and feed as a community. Much appreciation goes back to WiCo through its funders for remembering us with self-sustaining initiatives.
“About 51 families are benefitting from this project including young people and the elderly. We hope to increase production both on honey and gardening side,” he said.
About 100 trees were planted at the compound and these include Mango, Avocado, Oranges, and Mulberry and Shady trees.