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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER football star Moses “Bambo” Chunga has found a new passion.
The 58-year-old, who is known for his passion to grow young and talented players, has put his football kits aside to concentrate on growing the environment in the fight against climate change through tree planting.
He has found willing partners in football’s all-weather friend Nyaradzo Group.
In fact, Nyaradzo Group, who also sponsor giants Dynamos and Highlanders among their several football projects, have been involved in this fight against global warming and climate change for over a decade through their Friends of the Environment (FOTE) initiative.
The company’s Projects Manager Simba Dodzo said they are looking to form a “winning team” with Chunga, who has pledged to plant at least 365 trees every year, signifying each day lived, and another lot matching the number of years on his birthday.
He recently turned 58 years and planted 58 trees, and an additional 365 trees.
“Bambo is a living legend and a role model for a lot of people, including the youth,” Dodzo told Saturday Herald.
“We believe the youth should be at the forefront in the fight against climate change. If the message comes from a person like Bambo, it can cut across the generations.
“He also feels he needs to give back to the communities that raised him. This is also in tandem with his birthday celebrations.
“Remember, he recently turned 58. So the idea is to plant trees for every year lived and 365 more representing every day of the year. We are going to be doing this with him every year.
“The idea is to encourage everyone to plant more trees than we are cut down. We have realised that those people who plant trees are less likely to cut a tree down.
“So, we foresee this project progressing well into the future. The only limiting factor could be the land, especially here in the urban areas. As Friends of the Environment, we are targeting to plant at least 500 million trees by 2026,” said Dodzo.
Nyaradzo have worked with various organisations and stakeholders including the Forestry Commission and the National Parks and Wildlife in this initiative.
They have held tree planting activities that comprise walkathons, that usually coincide with the National Tree Planting Day which falls on the first Saturday of December annually.
They have planted no less than 415 trees with Chunga in the past few weeks. The majority of the trees were played at the Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield, Gwanzura, Africa Unity Square and in Glenorah.
These included shed trees, ornamental trees and orchard trees in the quest to contribute to greener environments and food security at household level.
“I am just being thankful to God and the nature that he blessed us with,” said Chunga.
“To be who we are as people, it’s because of the bounties of the nature around us and the oxygen that we get from the trees.
“I decided to work with Nyaradzo Group in this tree-planting initiative after realising that we are losing the battle against climate change partly because of the indiscriminate cutting down of trees.
“The aim is to try and fight against deforestation, desertification, hunger and global warming, among other devastating effects of climate change.
“We need to complement Government’s efforts in this regard. So, I hope to be moving round the country to push this agenda. The youth are the leaders of tomorrow, so we hope to be engaging schools and communities.
“I am very grateful to Nyaradzo Group for coming up with the Friends of the Environment concept though the company’s CEO and philanthropist, Phillip Mataranyika.
“I have also spoken to Mildred Kujinga of NBS about this initiative, and she has got brilliant ideas on the subject,” said Chunga.
Online Reporter