Schools urged to care for the environment

Aisleby and Inkanyezi primary schools.
The event was organised by Mbira Tours, Cape to Cairo Pub and Restaurant in conjunction with 10 models from Miss Zimbabwe Environment and the Bulawayo City Council.
The trees included the tree of the year the Kigelia Africana or umvebe in isiNdebele or Mubvee in Shona or sausage tree, which were donated by Mbira Tours and Cape to Cairo.
The Forestry Commission represented by its district coordinator for Bulawayo, Umguza and Tsholotsho, Mr Charles Mashingaidze, took the pupils through the process of planting a tree at each of the schools.
Mr Mashingaidze urged the schools to look after the planted trees saying it served no purpose to just plant trees and leave them to die.
“The problem we have in the country is that we do not maintain the trees we plant. After planting we forget about the trees and many of them as a result die,” said Mr Mashingaidze.
He said the trees were for the children and for that reason concerted efforts should be made to support such initiatives.
Mr Mashingaidze said the preservation of the natural resources such as trees mitigated the effects of climate change.
“We need these trees to mitigate the effects of climate change,” he said.
Representing Mbira Tours and Cape to Cairo Pub and Restaurant Mr Engelbert Karombo said they had targeted schools because they wanted to educate school pupils on the importance of preserving the environment.
He said as an organisation they wanted to complement the efforts of President Mugabe and the First Lady, Amai Grace Mugabe who planted trees at Milton High School last year.
“The President and First Lady set a good example when they planted trees at Milton High School. What we are doing here is responding to the first family’s challenge,” said Mr Karombo.
“Tourism is very much dependant on the environment. We encourage the programme because tourists visit the country because of its flora and fauna”, said Mr Karombo.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event Miss Zimbabwe Environment pageant founder and director Mr Brighton Takunda said part of the mission of the pageant was to create ambassadors throughout the country who would engage in projects that raise environmental awareness in their communities.
He said their efforts were meant to contribute to the national target of one million trees for the year 2012.
The National Tree Planting Day is commemorated on the first Saturday of December.