Republic of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe planting a tree inside the country. The ruling ZANU-PF party is holding a National People's Conference in Bulawayo during December 2011., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
President urges farmers to harness rains
Thursday, 08 December 2011 00:00
President Robert Mugabe planted a tree in Bulawayo
Sydney Kawadza in Bulawayo
Zimbabwe Herald
Zimbabweans should double their efforts and plant more trees while adopting conservation practices that ensure maximum utilisation of the country's natural resources, President Mugabe has said.
Speaking during the National Tree Planting Day at Milton High in Bulawayo yesterday, President Mugabe said more trees are being cut for both industrial and domestic use.
Over 300 000 hectares of forests are lost to human activities while 90 000 hectares have been destroyed in veld fires this year.
President Mugabe said more trees are being cut as people from urban areas have resorted to using firewood during power outages.
"We are also aware that industries use wood for their furniture while farmers use wood to treat their tobacco.
"Some farmers have also destroyed forests in their bid to utilise more land on their farms," he said.
The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces however, encouraged farmers to harness the rains that are received in Zimbabwe every year.
"We have favourable rainy conditions and every year the rains give us water that we however, fail to harness in dams and it flows to bigger rivers and ultimately the oceans.
"There is need to harness that water so that farmers can fully utilise the water in dams for irrigation purposes and they would utilise small pieces of land for agriculture purposes," he said.
President Mugabe gave an example of the Israeli-inspired drip irrigation that uses less water.
"What we have in our environment is very precious and it becomes more precious when it is compared to the deserts," he said.
This year's Tree Planting Day coincide with the United Nations International Year of Forests and was held under the theme, "Forests for the people".
President Mugabe hailed the theme indicating that it captures the symbiotic relations between people and the forests.
"Let's teach our people and our children that trees should not be cut because this has led to the disappearance of rainforests in some countries of Europe," he said.
Meanwhile, President Mugabe commended the relations between Zimbabwe and China.
Speaking after commissioning the NetOne Broadband and Ascot Mobile Switching Centre and Packet Switch Call for Bulawayo, he said the illegal and unjustified sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe had affected development in the country.
He lauded the Look East Policy for helping Zimbabwe overcome these challenges.
"As a sovereign nation we have friends who have supported us during the liberation struggle and these are the same people who have come to our rescue when the West turned its back on us," he said.
He said China had become Zimbabwe's major economic ally especially in the supply of wares for agriculture, mining, clothing and motor industries.
"We will continue to Look East and the policy has shown that we were right to turn to the East when the West turned their backs on us," he said.
Zanu-PF conference roars into life
Thursday, 08 December 2011 00:00
From Hebert Zharare in BULAWAYO
ZANU-PF's 12th Annual National People's Conference begins here today with President Mugabe steering the meeting in search of solutions to challenges facing the country.
The party's leadership is upbeat that they will emerge stronger after the conference, ready to defeat opponents at the polls at the end of the inclusive Government that has outlived its lifespan. All logistics were in place by late yesterday, with the party's leadership expressing satisfication with the preparations.
Zanu-PF national spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo said there were no changes to the initial programme.
"President Mugabe is going to officially open the conference tomorrow (today) and close it on Saturday. I think the party is going to emerge stronger. We expect the President to guide us. There will be candid debate during conference and it is expected to come up with a number of solutions," he said.
"Yes, there has been debate that some previous conference resolutions were not implemented, but this time it will be different."
Cde Gumbo said the party was worried by Copac's delay in finishing the constitution-making process that was now behind schedule. He said the conference will resolve that Copac should speed up the process.
"We are calling for the speedy completion of the constitution-making process, holding of the referendum after the process and then have harmonised elections early next year," he said.
The President recently expressed concern over the delay by Copac, saying the process was now being used as a money-making venture.
Although the drafting of the new constitution started on Monday, Cde Gumbo said Zanu-PF was not impressed with the progress.
"We have realised that other parties are no longer interested in the elections and they are hiding behind the issue of completing the new constitution," he said.
"We know they are enjoying being in the inclusive Government. They are deliberately delaying the process . . . the West also does not want the elections.
"These conference resolutions will be relevant and we are going to implement them."
Cde Gumbo said the conference will discuss the state of the agriculture sector with Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made addressing delegates on the state of preparedness for this season. He said Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere will speak on the implementation of the indigenisation programme.
The theme of the conference touches on indigenisation. Cde Gumbo said the conference will also discuss food security amid reports of food shortages in some parts of the country.
"We have reports of food shortages in some parts of the country and we are going to discuss what the Government can do," he said.
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