DCC Mashava plants a tree at Tanganda Clinic
DISTRICT Development Coordinator (formerly District Administrator) for Chipinge, Mr William Mashava has lamented the wanton destruction of trees that has been happening in Chipinge in the past couple of years.
DDC Mashava said this at a belated commemoration of World Environment Day and World Desertification Day that was held at Tanganda Halt on 28 June 2019.
The joint event was organised by Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and Forestry Commission in collaboration with ENSURE, a development partner in Chipinge Ward 4. ENSURE incorporates partners like World Vision and Safire among others.
Addressing hundreds of people who braved the chilly Chipinge weather, Mr Mashava indicated that Human-Wild Conflict is far from over if man continues to have a negative attitude towards nature.
“There used to be a lot trees and animals here at Tanganda but they are nowhere to be found. Humans have been responsible for the disappearance of wildlife during the years. It is unfortunate that some of our kids here haven’t seen a live monkey because they have disappeared,” he said.
“We should desist from the culture of destroying trees and animals at will. Desertification leads to hunger, starvation, poverty, food insecurity, conflicts over resources and increased natural disasters like heatwaves, flooding and cyclones. Chipinge has experienced how tropical cyclones destroy life and its high time everyone conserve nature,” continued Mr Mashava.
The district coordinator encouraged people to be responsible for bringing back forests. “It is wise that we start participating in bringing back forests. If each one of us hear have a target of planting three trees per year, this will help so much. If Zimbabwe has 20 million people and each plants the three people, by end of year will can boost 60 million trees,” he added.
Mr Mashava went on to encourage people to conserve wildilfe in order for tourists to come to the region.
"Tourists come to see wildlife and landscapes. If we destroy the environment and wildlife, what will tourists come to see? We should conserve our environment so that tourists keep coming to the area," he echoed. The DDC later planted a tree at Tanganda Clinic with other trees planted by Chipinge Town Council, Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, ZimParks and Ensure.