adminThe caravan is made up of farmers, environmentalists and some officials from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi and Zambia were officially welcomed into the country by Victoria Falls Mayor, Councillor Nkosilathi Jiyane at the Victoria Falls Rainforest.
Clr Jiyane told the caravan that climate change was for real and was affecting the livelihoods of people especially those dependent on rain-fed agriculture on the African continent.
“There is need for a combined effort in combating environmental degradation, emitting of green- house gases and other ills that are affecting our ozone layer which is causing global warming that is causing climate change,” said Clr Jiyane.
The director of the Zimbabwe Climate and Sustainable Development Committee Network, Mr Johannes Chigwada, said the caravan was en route to South Africa via Botswana.
He said the caravan was aimed at promoting the African People’s Petition and the demands to Heads of State and other policymakers as evidence of the urgent action that their people require them to take the issue at domestic level and within the African and global processes.
“The caravan arrived here this morning from Livingstone, Zambia, after which we toured the mighty Victoria Falls rainforest and we are then proceeding to Bulawayo where we are going to spend the night,” said Mr Chigwada.
“From Bulawayo, the caravan is proceeding to Botswana and finally arrive in South Africa before the start of COP 17. The campaign is aimed at telling the African story about climate change, while making known the demands of African people to its leaders and the rest of the world. Climate change is on us, we can no longer tell when the rainy season is starting and when it is ending because of the effects of climate change.”
He said the caravan was a huge mobilisation and awareness raising campaign for African civil society to highlight the challenges climate change poses to the continent’s efforts to extricate herself from poverty and attainment of Millennium Development Goals.
“The caravan is set to run through 10 countries and will bring together communities from diverse backgrounds in Eastern and Southern Africa to join up and demand climate justice before the COP 17 in Durban, South Africa,” said Mr Chigwada.
“At the same time, the caravan will collect signatures under ‘The Africa People’s Petition Signature drive’. It is a drive for signatures of people deeply concerned by the threats posed to the people’s of Africa by climate change. The petition demands for the African leaders to uphold their commitment to one Africa, one position and one voice for climate justice,” he said.
The participating countries are Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana and South Africa.
At the same time, solidarity activities were being held in the rest of Africa during the Global Day of Action on Climate Justice, which will coincide with the PACJA Week of Action between 20 and 26 November.
Online Reporter