Call on communities to fight environmental degradation

18 Jun, 2017 - 02:06 0 Views
Call on communities to fight environmental degradation

The Sunday News

Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
THE Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate has embarked on a spirited campaign to conscientise communities to adopt environmentally friendly initiatives that protect the environment in the face of climate change.

In a speech read on her behalf by Mrs Sichelesile Ncube who is the personal assistant to Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Nomthandazo Moyo during World Environment Day celebrations held at Cowdray Park Primary School in Bulawayo last week, Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri challenged communities to ensure they practice environment friendly programmes that do not harm their environment.

She said the threat of climate change is real and can only be mitigated through raising awareness so that communities play their part in the whole environment protection discourse.

“As a nation we value this day which serves as a platform to promote an in-depth understanding on what communities, civic society, industry and all the other sectors should do to enhance attitudes towards environmental issues,” she said.

The theme this year was, “Connecting People to Nature” which she said it implored people to appreciate nature, its beauty, importance and also to take forward the call to protect the earth that people share.

Environment Ambassador Mr Never Bonde said they identified Cowdray Park for this year’s commemorations and to raise awareness on the effects of a carefree attitude that people often have towards the environment.

“This suburb has been selected as the best place for this event because of the human settlement activities taking place where there is no electricity and sewer system. These have a negative impact on the environment.

“The new stands area has no electricity, water or sewer system and therefore people use firewood and other cheap fuels for domestic lighting, cooking and warming,” he said.

Mr Bonde said Izihlahla Yimpilo Trust found it imperative to mitigate and raise awareness, implement support action and drive for change in people’s lives towards sustainable utilisation of natural resources and partaking in preservation of natural resources.

He said it was important for people residing in Cowdray Park to plant trees in order to replace the many that have been cut down and were being used as fuel in their homes.

He said the Trust had 843 000 trees they purchased in Harare ready for planting.

Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said the commemorations inspire environmental actions and commitment by various stakeholders in environmental management.

“Through the World Environment Day we can employ our individual and collective power to green our economy and use resources more efficiently. The gesture by Izihlahla Yimpilo Trust should be a challenge to the Cowdray Park community, Bulawayo and the nation at large in taking the lead,” she said.

Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri emphasised the need for communities to protect and safeguard the environment for current and future generations.

She said there should be sustainable management of natural resources urging people not to practice stream bank cultivation, deforestation, dumping of waste and sand abstraction activities which activities are rampant in parts of Cowdray Park.
World Environment Day is commemorated on 5 June every year.

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