ZNA committed to community development

General Thomas Moyo, said on Wednesday.
Speaking during a donation of an orchard where the ZNA planted close to 200 trees in Zhukwe West, Matshetshe, under Chief Mzimuni in Gwanda district, Brig-Gen Moyo, who was the guest of honour, said the idea came with the intention of raising income for the Isiphala SeNkosi.
The event was a belated National Tree Planting Day, which is observed on the first Saturday of December every year.
The project is part of the ZNA social responsibility activities and enhancing relations with communities.
“One of the commanders in this area hinted to me last year, of your desire to see an orchard flourish in your area. We as One Infantry Brigade saw it fit to support such endeavours through donating these trees.
“The ZNA as a whole would want to demonstrate its commitment to such projects by assisting traditional leaders start community orchards and gum tree woodlots as we are doing today,” he said.
The close to 200 trees donated by ZNA included mangoes, guavas, oranges, avocado, plum trees, gum trees and acacia trees.
The orchard was established in Ward Two next to Sizabantu Marketing Garden, where the community undertakes irrigation activities.
Brig-Gen Moyo, who was accompanied by the commanding Officer for 1.1 Combat Group, Lieutenant-Colonel Kenson Carlos Dube, deputy officer commanding police in Matabeleland South Assistant Commissioner Earnest Muchenjekwa, Ms Beaulah Gwaze representing the District Administrator for Gwanda and Gwanda Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Ronnie Sibanda, among high ranking officials, led the planting of the trees.
After him, villagers and traditional leaders who had gathered for the event and representatives from different Government departments and non-governmental organisations planted a tree each with the assistance of members of the ZNA.
Brig-Gen Moyo said the orchard was there to complement a programme started by ZNA commander Lieutenant-General Phillip Valerio Sibanda when he visited the province last year.
“These fruit trees would serve to provide the Isiphala SeNkosi project with a source of income through selling of produce as well as providing members of the community with a healthy source of food together with food for animals especially from acacia trees. The proceeds would be channelled to Isiphala SeNkosi to improve communities’ welfare by improving food security,” he said.
Brig-Gen Moyo reminded villagers of the importance of trees to the community and urged them to manage them effectively.
“Natural forests are being cleared for different reasons and there is a need to strike a balance between such activities to avoid hazards as drought, desertification and flooding through climate change,” said Brig-Gen Moyo.
He thanked traditional leaders in the area for affording the ZNA an opportunity to support community projects.
Chief Mzimuni Mbiko Masuku said the project was a welcome development to his community and urged his subjects to take ownership of it.
He said the gesture had shown that the army was not an enemy of the people as perceived by many, but a friend of the community.
“This is a welcome development and it comes as a lesson to the community to observe the importance of trees as they bring a lot of benefits. We want to thank the ZNA for working with communities for development.
“However, what is important is that people should take ownership of this orchard for it to prosper,” said Chief Masuku.
A representative from the Forestry Commission, Mr Bekithemba Ngwenya, gave villagers tips on how to grow and tend trees.
He urged them to complement the Government tree planting programme.