Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MUTARE City Council Acting Town Clerk, Mrs Emma Mandiziba has emphasized the importance of environmental preservation, citing the devastating effects of Cyclone Idai in March 2019.
Speaking at the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency Project in Zimbabwe Phase Two meeting at the Civic Centre, Mrs Mandiziba said:
“It is unfortunate that as local authorities, we are often viewed as the enemy when we enforce environmental regulations, such as slashing crops in undesignated areas. People think that we are cruel. However, the trauma experienced in Chimanimani and Chipinge during Cyclone Idai serves as a stark reminder of the need for proactive environmental preservation.
“We still bear the scars, and the memories of Cyclone Idai’s devastation remain fresh in our minds. We cannot afford to relive that trauma. The recurring flooding, we experience every rainy season serves as a stark reminder of our vulnerability. To mitigate this, we must adhere to proper environmental preservation guidelines,” she said.
The Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) project, supported by ICAT, UNOPS, and UNEP-CCC, is currently in its pilot phase.
Four local authorities – Mutare City Council, Nyanga Rural District Council, Tsholotsho Rural District Council, and Gweru City Council – are participating in the project’s implementation before its nationwide rollout.
