Online Reporter
Amos Mpofu
The National Tree Ambassador, Mr Never Bonde, has commended the President Emmerson Mnangagwa, for designating this year’s National Tree Planting Day, set for Saturday, 6 December, to be officially commemorated in Murombedzi.
He said the decision underscores the need for a collective national effort in building a secure future anchored on a healthy, uncompromised ecosystem.
Mr Bonde, known for his ambitious reforestation agenda, recently pledged to plant half a million trees across Bulawayo Province by 2030. Efforts towards achieving this milestone have already begun, marking significant progress in his long-term environmental campaign.
This year’s Tree of the Year is the Sausage Tree, known locally as Mumvee in Shona and Umvebe in IsiNdebele. The government has also encouraged households to plant fruit trees alongside indigenous species to boost nutrition and improve livelihoods.
Indigenous to Zimbabwe and several Southern African countries, the Sausage Tree (Kigelia africana) offers numerous ecological and social benefits that have supported communities for generations.
The theme for this year’s National Tree Planting Day is: “Trees and Forests for Ecosystem Restoration and Improved Livelihoods.”
“Firstly, as we celebrate National Tree Planting Day in Zimbabwe, we would like to thank God for the gift of life, nature and the rains, accepting the responsibility we have of taking care of the nature God gave us,” he said.
“Also, we would like to thank our President, Dr ED Mnangagwa, for granting us an opportunity to meet in Murombedzi to celebrate and put into action this special day, going with the theme Trees and Forests for Ecosystem Restoration and Improved Livelihoods.”
Highlighting the value of the Sausage Tree, Mr Bonde urged all institutions and citizens to participate.
“It is important to us, looking at the type of tree we are planting this year, which is used to treat blood pressure, sugar diabetes and stroke.
This type of tree is known as Kigelia africana, or the sausage tree. Thus we encourage all schools, government institutions and citizens to partake in the planting of this tree on 6 December 2025, so we don’t run out of this specific type of tree,” he said.
Mr Bonde added that the tree benefits not only humans but livestock and wildlife as well. Its flowers attract bees, aiding honey production.
“So this day serves to encourage humans to note the importance of preserving our trees and wildlife,” he said.
