Online Reporter
Muchaneta Chimuka
Herald Reporter
NEDBANK Zimbabwe and Dzikwa Trust joined hands to plant over 100 trees in Dzivaresekwa to mark National Tree Planting Day.
National Tree Planting Day is an annual event in Zimbabwe celebrated on the first Saturday of December to encourage the planting and conservation of trees.
This year’s event is themed: “Trees and Forests for Ecosystem Restoration and Improved Livelihoods”.
Dzikwa Trust empowers orphans and vulnerable children through education, nutrition, healthcare, and cultural development and promotes environmental stewardship, and their own localised theme titled “Supporting an Orphan, Supporting Trees”.
“Our partnership this year goes beyond tree planting. It is about creating a legacy of hope and resilience,” said Nedbank’s senior brand and marketing manager, Mr Joel Gombera.
“Through our generous donation, we are addressing four key pillars: Education and Well-being: Supporting the holistic development of OVCs, ensuring access to education and care, environmental sustainability through providing post-planting care to guarantee that every tree thrives, planting of 100 seedlings from diverse varieties, reinforcing biodiversity and sustainability and through Arts and Culture – celebrating creativity and cultural heritage—an integral part of our every child’s growth.”
He reaffirmed their commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) – by supporting vulnerable children’s education, SDG 13 (Climate Action) – through tree planting and environmental care, and SDG 15 (Life on Land) – by promoting biodiversity and sustainable land use.
“As a green bank, Nedbank Zimbabwe believes that financial expertise must go hand in hand with social and environmental responsibility,” he said.
“Together with Dzikwa Trust, we are planting more than trees—we are planting hope, sustainability, and opportunity for future generations.”
Their work ensures that children not only survive but thrive, becoming active contributors to society, which aligns with Nedbank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, which focus on community development, education, and environmental sustainability.
Dzikwa Trust’s founding trustee, Mr Seppo Ainamo, said they are overwhelmed by the support and they hope to plant more trees in their 6ha plot to ensure that they preserve the environment and its biodiversity – agroecologically.
“Trees are important in our lives and as we support orphans and vulnerable children in Dzivarasekwa, we need them to breathe, eat healthy and all these come from the trees. We get fruits, shade, medicine, among other things. Trees are life,” he said.
He said the inspiring collaboration has brought together corporate leaders, vulnerable children, and the Dzivarasekwa community to plant seeds of hope for both the environment and the next generation.
Dzikwa Trust’s Reforestation and Food Security Project Administrator Mr Moffat Tsarara said: “Every single tree provides oxygen, shade, fruit, beauty, and life. But through the Double Blossom Campaign, each tree does even more: it contributes directly to meals, education, healthcare and wellbeing for vulnerable children supported through our Education and Wellbeing Programme,” he said
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.
Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa has granted this year’s National Tree Planting Day to be celebrated in Murombedzi on the 6th of this month.
