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"Green" Dream

Zimbabwe’s 275 km walk for a tree



Imagine Prim seated in the latest BMW model that is travelling at 140km/hr. She intends to cover a distance of 275km between two cities located in a Southern African country. Simple mathematical calculations tell you that she would reach her destination in approximately two hours. But upon accomplishing her journey, Prim complaints of fatigue.

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The teapot shaped nation that Prim dwells in is notorious for political insurgence among contesting political parties. There was bloodbath in the 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections as two major political parties, one Zanu PF led by President Robert Mugabe and the other, the Movement for Democratic Change, of which former trade unionist Morgan Tsvangirai is in charge, jostled for supremacy in the affairs of the State. But a group of volunteers numbering close to 100 who dub themselves “Friends of The Environment”, incensed by the thoughtless destruction of forests have decided to put aside political rivalry gripping the once high economically prosperous nation to lay the foundation of a 15-year-old dream. That dream is to cover the 275km journey between the country’s central city, Gweru and the capital Harare on foot. Their aspiration is to complement political and economic turnaround efforts through restoration of ravaged forests. e “green” dream is to realize a target of 500 million trees in 15 years by the time it (dream) comes true. “Nothing can stop the dream for a life that comes from trees that are senselessly razed. As we embark on our 275km 500 million trees walkathon we would be planting trees along the way. In 2025 we should have planted 500 million trees. If you see us along the way please don’t offer us transport in your comfortable cars. All we are asking for is your moral support and prayers,” divulged group spokesperson, Philip Mataranyika, at the official launch of the project last Friday. The Environment Friends intend to stride the distance in eight days. They have the full backing of a significant but looked down upon government ministry, that of Environment and Natural resources. In a send off message Environment Minister, Francis Nhema, applauded “Friends of The Environment” for a sterling thought and urged every Zimbabwean to go on board in tree planting. “I have noted that as “Friends of The Environment” you have targeted to plant 500 million trees in 15 years. May I take this opportunity to applaud you for taking on this ambitious project which has my full support. I urge the corporate world, industry, non governmental organizations, youth groups, churches, schools, families and individuals to embark on tree planting exercises because it is our collective responsibility to plant trees,” said Nhema. The Ministry boss said the reality of desertification is becoming a reality each day as the country loses 330, 000 hectares of land under forests every year. He said his ministry intends to plant 1 million trees before the 4th of December, which is Zimbabwe’s National Tree Planting Day. “The issue of desertification becomes real each day as we continue to lose our forests. Each year, Zimbabwe is losing 330, 000 hectares of land under forests due to deforestation. Trees are being cut down for firewood, expansion of agricultural land and for tobacco curing. “My Ministry is on a drive to plant 1 million trees before the 4th of December 2010 which is National Tree Planting Day,” he said. Planting trees on its own is not enough in Zimbabwe. The large population in the country just as is the case in other developing countries and Africa in particular heavily relies on wood as a source of fuel. Yvonne Agyei in an article Deforestation in Sub-Saharan Africa, published by African Technology Forum, Vol 8. No 1 note that “Developing countries rely heavily on wood fuel, the major source for cooking and heating. In Africa, the statistics are striking: an estimated 90 percent of the entire continent’s population uses fuel wood for cooking, and in Sub-Saharan Africa, firewood and brush supply approximately 52 percent of all energy sources. Given such a scenario there is need for Zimbabwe to think outside the ‘wood fuel” box and as Minister Nhema notes commit resources “in renewable forms of energy, such as hydro power, biogas as well as solar energy, in order to mitigate and adapt to climate change while at the same time reducing pressure on forests as a source of wood energy,” he says. This year Zimbabwe commemorates national tree planting day under the theme is “A Tree Today, A Forest Tomorrow.” Taking cognizance of “Friends of The Environment” initiative to plant 500 million trees in 15 years one can conclude by adding a tree today, 500 million trees in 15 years, bountiful forests in future, a walk for a breath of life.


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Stephen Chadenga -- Bio and Archives

Stephen Chandega is a journalist in Zimbabwe


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