Online Reporter
Sharon Jiyamwa
Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWEAN and Ethiopian youths have joined hands in a tree-planting exercise in Harare, pledging to strengthen youth-led climate action and environmental restoration ahead of the 2027 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP32).
The joint tree-planting ceremony, held at Heritage Village, brought together Government officials, an Ethiopian youth delegation, young people from the two countries, environmental organisations and other stakeholders.
Officials described the initiative as the beginning of a broader movement to promote environmental restoration, green entrepreneurship and youth cooperation across Africa.
The initiative draws inspiration from Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, launched by Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Mr Tino Machakaire said the initiative demonstrated the importance of African solidarity in confronting environmental challenges.
“Today’s tree-planting activity is significant because it reflects the environmental vision of His Excellency, the President, Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa,” he said.
Minister Machakaire said the Green Legacy was about more than planting trees, describing it as a symbol of hope, protection of natural resources, climate resilience and responsibility towards future generations.
He also called on young Zimbabweans to take ownership of the Green Legacy by leading environmental initiatives in their communities, schools and workplaces, while promoting responsible waste management and fighting environmental degradation, pollution and veld fires
“I call on the youth of Zimbabwe to make the Green Legacy their own. You must lead environmental initiatives, become ambassadors in your communities, and plant trees in schools and workplaces,” he said.
He said the Zimbabwe-Ethiopia youth partnership should be strengthened through the sharing of knowledge, innovation, technology and best practices, while supporting youth-led green enterprises and turning environmental challenges into opportunities for employment and sustainable economic development
“We must build networks of young environmental leaders. We must support youth-led green enterprises. We must turn environmental challenges into opportunities for innovation, employment and sustainable economic development,” he said.
Minister Machakaire said the trees should become living symbols of the friendship between Zimbabwe and Ethiopia and the two countries’ shared commitment to environmental sustainability.
Head of the Ethiopian Prosperity Party Youth Delegation, Senbetu Ababa, said the choice of tree planting was deliberate, describing it as a simple but powerful demonstration of the two countries’ shared commitment to environmental protection.
“Today, we have chosen to demonstrate that friendship through something very simple, yet very powerful, planting a tree,” said Mr Ababa.
He encouraged the initiation of youth environmental dialogues, organisation of tree planting programs and sharing of knowledge and technology as the two countries move towards a greener Africa.
Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister Mrs Evelyn Ndlovu, who was represented by the acting Director for the Department of Wildlife and Forest, said Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative provided an important lesson for Zimbabwe, having mobilised the planting of more than 48 billion seedlings since 2019 and working towards a stated national ambition of 65 billion trees.
“Restoration at scale is not achieved by ministries acting alone. It is achieved when a country decides that tree planting is a civic act in which every citizen needs to participate,” he said.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, has committed to restoring about two million hectares of degraded land by 2030 under AFR100, with about 685 000 hectares already restored, she said
Zimbabwe was particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change despite contributing relatively little to global greenhouse gas emissions
She said the country had experienced the effects of climate change through disasters such as Cyclone Idai, as well as frequent and prolonged droughts that had weakened food systems.
“Although Zimbabwe produces only about 0,7 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, we are ranked among the top 50 most vulnerable countries in the world,” he said.
She described the disparity between Africa’s relatively low emissions and its disproportionate exposure to climate impacts as a major injustice, saying the continent must continue speaking with one voice in international climate negotiations.
