dyton mupawaenda
Remember Deketeke-Herald Reporter
The Government working with Environmental Management Authority (EMA) have engaged traditional leaders to stop land degradation, deforestation and mismanagement of wetlands.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife and EMA pressed the traditional leaders, through the Chiefs Council, to take a bigger role in safeguarding natural resources in their chiefdoms.
Rural and urban areas have been negatively impacted by the current state of waste management.
Of late, Zimbabwe has become one of the huge trash cans and EMA and the Ministry now see the Chiefs Council as a major stakeholder, going forward.
Permanent Secretary for Environment, Wildlife and Climate Professor Prosper Matondi emphasised the importance of the traditional leadership in the conservation of natural resources.
“This council is a critical and unique component of our development agenda and society, both from a technical standing and as cultural enrichment to our decisions and actions as a country. Waste management remains a point of concern in the country however, we are excited that through the visionary leadership of our President, we are on a positive trajectory towards finding lasting solutions to achieve sustainable waste management.’’
Prof Matondi promised to work better with traditional leaders. The Second Republic in its second term wants to do things differently. If there are things we have not done in the last five years, we are going to take corrective measures to ensure that we will put on course the necessary ingredients for us to be able to strengthen the relationship with our traditional leadership,” he said.
Government arms need to align themselves with the traditional heads and chiefs. Traditional leaders are the custodians of our natural resources.
There must exist a symbiotic relationship between traditional leaders, EMA and the ministry to achieve the goals.
“Much needed awareness of our communities can be easily achieved by our traditional leaders if there is collaboration between traditional chiefs, the ministry and EMA. Traditional leaders have a mechanism of disseminating information faster than any social media,” he said.
Prof Matondi emphasised the importance of natural resources, especially wetlands.
“Many things have broken down in our nation. We are struggling to protect 355 000 hectares of wetlands that provide a vital resource for our nation.”
“We need to go again to our tradition leaders so they can re-emphasise the issue of values, culture and how natural resources are supposed and expected to be managed,” he said.
“In Zimbabwe, about 18 percent of waste generated on an annual basis is plastic translating to over 300 000 tonnes. Furthermore, when plastics break down into micro plastics, they can contaminate food chains and potentially harm human health.
“Approximately 5 000 animals, including donkeys, cattle, goats and elephants, have been recorded to have died due to plastics since 2010. Definitely this is a huge dent to our economy as a country especially the livestock herd which remains a priceless asset to our rural communities.
“It doesn’t take much to create a clean, safe and healthy environment for us by us.”
Online Reporter