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Minister Chikukwa

Herald Reporter
Community participation in environmental conservation plays a critical role in encouraging local stewardship and development, Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province Miriam Chikukwa has said.She made the remarks on Friday at a tree planting occasion at Chinamano Primary School in Epworth.

“Development should start at the community level because that is where the people are,” she said. “It is encouraging that schools and local communities have started taking a leading role in the overall thrust of our developmental strategy by engaging in programmes such as today’s tree planting exercise.

“Zimbabwe, and indeed the rest of Africa, is under constant threat from desertification due to multiple environmental management challenges that include degradation.
“This happens because more people are cutting down trees for firewood and shelter due to economic hardship as a result of the illegal sanctions imposed by the Western countries.”

Minister Chikukwa said her office created a social desk to focus on issues such as access to safe water and sanitation. Junior Chamber International city president Mr Hope Tarengwa said they were working with several organisations in the tree planting initiative to secure the environment.

“We are working with organisations like Tetrad Tree Foundation, Forestry Commission, Sol-vest Research and Development and Interlink because we believe in the hope and future of our country,” he said. “We need to safeguard our environment and take care of our valued resources.”

Sol-vest Research and Development donated 20 000 saplings for planting in 2014.