Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma, Zimpapers Writer
BULILIMA District recently held the belated commemorations of the National Tree Planting Day as a day to promote environmental conservation and sustainability.
National Tree Planting Day in Zimbabwe is an annual event on the first Saturday of December, which is held to encourage citizens to plant and conserve trees to fight deforestation, combat climate change and boost biodiversity.
The event marks the start of the tree planting season with Government campaigns and community efforts to plant millions of trees.
In Bulilima District, 100 trees were planted at Bezu Secondary School and surrounding areas as the awareness about the importance of trees in the ecosystem was heightened.
Planted trees on the day included assorted fruit trees and ornamental plants.
Also planted was the tree of the year named Sausage Tree (Kigelia africana) which is also known as Umvebe (Ndebele) or Mubveve (Shona). It was chosen for its medicinal uses, pollinator support, and role in preventing soil erosion, highlighting the need for conservation against threats like deforestation and over-harvesting.
Bulilima Constituency legislator Cde Dingumuzi Phuti through his representative Zanu PF central committee member Cde Charity Ndlovu highlighted the importance of tree planting and urged communities to support Forestry Commission in enforcing forest protection laws in an effort to curb deforestation.
Headman Bhidi stressed the need to embrace sustainable forest management and institutional collaboration in addressing deforestation
He mentioned that there’s need to capacitate community based natural resources management committees to ensure that they become effective.
Bulilima District Forest Extension Officer Ms Faith Ngute said there are working on plans to plant more trees in the district throughout the season.
She invited partners to support the tree planting program through out the season and expressed gratitude to partners such as SAFIRE, RDC and MoPSE who were instrumental in the success of the program.
“Every tree planted at household and institutional level should be reported to Forestry Commission through lead farmers and ARDA extension officers as this helps the organisation to keep an accurate district tree planting inventory,” said Ms Ngute.
Bulilima RDC CEO Mr Billiati Mulauzi hailed the programme and pledged to support the tree planting exercise through the natural resources and conservation department.
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