Andrew
Tendai Chara
JOHN Antonio (28), of Belvedere in Harare, is a man on a mission.
“I want to turn green as many homes as I can. It is my desire to create a healthier environment not only for Belvedere households, but for other Harare residents as well,” Antonio said.
An untrained landscaper, Antonio tasked himself with planting trees, shrubs and flowers in homes and on road verges in Belvedere.
His passion for creating a healthier environment for the residents has earned him many friends and admirers.
His tree planting and road verge maintenance services, which started off as a pastime, are now in great demand.
“I started off by beautifying a road verge adjacent to a house where I was employed as a gardener. After turning the once neglected road verge into a neat, environmentally friendly place, more and more families approached me to do the same at their homes,” Antonio said.
He has so far lost count of the homes and road verges he has transformed.
Apart from trees, Antonio has also planted bushes, lawn, shrubs and even climbers.
Some of the trees he planted along Princess Drive have already borne fruit.
As demand for his services soars, Antonio is now overwhelmed.
“I am employed full-time as a gardener and I maintain the other families’ road verges during my spare time. The demand for my services is overwhelming.”
Antonio spoke about the advantages of greening the environment.
“Those who did Geography in high school are aware of the positives of planting trees. They beautify places, they act as windbreaks and also play an important role in the production of the air we breathe,” said Antonio, who is evidently passionate about planting trees.
Antonio added that trees and other plants serve as shelter and homes for both birds and animals.
Mr Ramesh Joshi, a Belvedere resident whose home surroundings were turned into a green and eco-friendly place, was full of praise for Antonio.
“When I bought this house early this year, the road verge adjacent to it was not maintained and had become a small forest. When I saw what this young man had done at my relative’s home, I did not hesitate to engage him,” said Mr Joshi, who was strolling on the lush green verge.
He said passersby often pose for pictures on the well-maintained road verge.
“Besides creating a healthy environment for my family, the road verge has also become a resting place for passersby.
“My family is, in a way, contributing to the well-being of humankind by maintaining this road verge,” said Mr Joshi.
Mr Winston Gevha, on whose yard Antonio was busy planting trees, spoke about the need for the nation to go green.
“I am happy to say that many people are increasingly becoming aware of the symbiotic relationship between humans and the natural environment. For human beings to thrive, the environment also needs to thrive,” Mr Gevha noted.
Online Reporter