Chronicle Editor
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
THE Government has commended the community of Kasibo in Hwange district for successfully restoring and integrating a wetland which in turn has translated into economic benefits for the community in line with devolution.
In a speech read by the director of local government, Mr Yapera Mugoriya on behalf of the Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Richard Moyo during the provincial environment day commemorations in Kasibo last Thursday, he said the project was an ideal model for wetland restoration.
“It is pleasing to note that this community where we are gathered today, Kasibo, is being exemplary in fulfilling the World Environment Day 2021 focus of ecosystem restoration. At one time Kasibo wetland had been severely degraded due to livestock trampling and cultivation. However, in 2019 the community through the financial and technical support from World Vision and Environmental Management Agency was able to protect the core of the wetland, construction of a weir dam and the establishment of a thriving two hectare hectare gardening project,” said Cde Moyo.
He said as a result of the restoration and subsequent protection of the Kasibo wetland, other beneficial components such as the establishment of a community garden, construction of a pond, installation of a vegetable solar dryer and beekeeping initiative were being realised.
“Kasibo wetland protection and integrated project is destined for greater heights as more components continue to be added. We saw a fish pond which is under construction and a solar powered hatchery that is awaiting full capacitation. It is in our best interest as a province to support such high impact projects as we pursue the Devolution Agenda that help us realize the goals of the National Development Strategy 1 and a Middle Economy society by 2030.”
The event also saw 20 members of the community who were trained in beekeeping walking away with certificates.
EMA also supported the members with equipment comprising of 30 bee hives, 10 bee suits, 10 smokers, 10 brushes and 10 hive tools to kick start the project. Kasibo wetland restoration success is being hailed as a contributor to how ecosystem restoration and sustainable exploitation can result in viability and benefit for the community. Meanwhile, EMA provincial environment manager, Mrs Chipo Zuze-Mpofu said the environment watchdog was encouraging the protection and sustainable exploitation of wetlands with Kasibo being a model.
“After realising that they are now earning a living out of the wetland they decided to add more value to the reason for protecting it. They shared their vision of a beekeeping project with us and we supported them through training and materials. They now have 22 members who received training in beekeeping. We hope that this is going to compel the community to also protect their environment from fires which is a problem in Hwange,” she said.
Mrs Elizabeth Sibanda, chairperson of the garden project said they had started reaping the rewards of sustainable wetland utilisation.
“The two hectare garden has been benefiting us immensely. Our nutritional needs are being met while the surplus is sold. There are 40 direct beneficiaries, 30 females and 10 males. All this is through the harnessing of water in a wetland in which through assistance from WPF and World Vision we built a weir dam. We now grow horticultural crops such as beans, tomatoes, butternuts, onions, among other vegetables,” she said.
The project recently received a boost of eight vegetable solar dryers to allow value addition which enabled the members to preserve all their yields and sell at the appropriate time when they fetch more money.
This year’s commemorations ran under the theme, “Strong local institutions – key to sustainable ecosystem restoration.”
Online Reporter