Chronicle Editor
Michael Magoronga, [email protected]
MORE than 1 600 villagers in Silobela are set to benefit from a newly-commissioned biogas digester project established by the Zibagwe Rural District Council as part of efforts to protect the environment and counter the effects of climate change.
The model project is at Wozoli Primary School in Ward 22 and was implemented in partnership with the Government and support from Gender-Links. The initiative is expected to be replicated in other wards within the district.
The biogas digester programme comes at a time when the rural authority has seen increased deforestation in rural communities, which increases the risk of carbon emissions.
Dubbed the “Go-Green, Go-Blue” project, the development entails planting tree to grow forests and harvesting carbon credits for sale to green industries.
The programme comes as a major relief to women and girls who are usually at the receiving end of the effects of climate change through hazards associated with walking long distances to fetch firewood.
Speaking during the official launch of the project, Minister of Local Government and Public Works Cde July Moyo said the Silobela programme should be used as a model for other areas.
“This is the first of its kind that we have done in partnership with Gender Links and we want it to be replicated throughout the district,” he said.
Minister Moyo said the project was in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision of using locally available resources to solve challenges. He said as a result of the project, the community now has electricity at absolutely no cost.
“Women do most of the chores and they meet a lot of things in their line of work. With this project, women will not travel long distances to fetch firewood. It will also reduce deforestation and bring about the desired change that benefit women,” said Minister Moyo.
He said the Government will continue drilling boreholes that are then connected to solar power to ensure women do not travel long distances to fetch water.
“Now that we have solved the firewood challenges, I urge all councils to use devolution funds towards the drilling of boreholes so that women can get water without travelling long distances,” he said.
Minister Moyo said Government was also drilling boreholes under the Presidential Borehole Scheme.
He said the proportional representation model was meant to have more women in councils so that they can be involved in making key decisions that tackle their challenges.
“We need more women in decision-making positions so that they are able to come up with solutions to their challenges. This is why the President came up with proportional representation after noticing that women were not forthcoming to participate in elections,” he said.
Gender Links regional manager, Ms Priscila Maphosa, said her organisation will continue supporting the Government in improving the lives of women and youths.
“We will continue working with the Government in promoting gender-sensitive projects to uplift the women and youths. This project is meant to promote clean energy and reduce cases of deforestation and gender-based violence associated with women as they go through their day-to-day chores,” she said.
Ms Maphosa said Zibagwe RDC was the first to introduce the project being undertaken under the theme “Promoting Gender Inclusivity; promoting local economic development.”
She said all the 92 local authorities were doing projects, but Zibagwe RDC chose clean energy, which will be spread to other local authorities.
“The biogas digesters are being installed at schools, clinics and community centres so that as many people can access them, including expecting mothers and girls,” said Ms Maphosa.
She said the empowerment project was meant to eradicate poverty as well as drug and substance abuse among other social ills.
Communities are set to benefit more as proceeds from the sale of carbon credits would go directly to the participating villages who will be assisted by the council to venture into various socio-economic projects including road rehabilitation, construction of schools, clinics, procurement of ambulances, among other projects.
Online Reporter