President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe speaking at his sister's memorial services on Sunday, August 1, 2010. When the president criticized the West for its genocidal sanctions, the imperialist envoys walked out in disrespect.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
By Kuda Bwititi
Zimbabwe Sunday Mail
PRESIDENT Mugabe has called on Zimbabweans to preserve the country’s natural resources and to desist from deforestation, saying environmental heritage provides multiple benefits.
Speaking at the National Tree Planting Day commemorations at Chishawasha Primary School yesterday, he took a swipe at those who wantonly destroy forestry.
“I am saddened by the level of deforestation currently prevailing in most parts of the country and the complete destruction of forests, woodlands and grasslands by fires,” he said.
“I am informed that we lose 330 000 hectares of land every year due to the needless loss of trees.
“With a forest and woodland cover of approximately 17 million hectares, this implies that it would only take about 53 years to wipe out all forests in Zimbabwe. This trend has to change.”
Diverting from his prepared speech, Cde Mugabe left hundreds of members of the Chishawasha community in attendance amused after he urged them to connect onto the “network” of planting trees.
The statement was in apparent reference to the Born Free Crew’s hit song “Network”, which features the President conversing on a mobile phone.
“Chokwadi yasvika nguva yekuti tisadharere tose. Iwe neni . . . Kana neni ndokubvunzayi kuti zvirisei sei ikoko! Ndinosungirwa kunzwa mhinduro yakanaka yekuti kwakanaka hakuna moto. We are connected,” he said to uproarious laughter from the gathering.
The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said the country had the potential to reap huge financial benefits from its vast forest resources through the new global phenomenon of carbon trading.
“Countries such as Brazil have made great strides by ‘selling their forests’ to European countries.
“Our country is endowed with numerous natural resources which are sought after by many nations,” he said. With an estimated forest cover of over 17 million hectares, representing 45 percent of our total land area, the country has the potential to tap into the international carbon markets and enjoy financial benefits by selling our forests’ ability to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.”
The President deplored the commercialisation of indigenous fruits, saying this threatens traditional norms and values.
“I would like to point out that the commercialisation of indigenous fruits has to be done sparingly as it may prejudice some inhabitants of the localities where the fruits are ordinarily situated,” he said.
He added that Government will remain committed to the National Tree Planting Day to promote biodiversity, counter the effects of climate change and sustain the economic benefits accrued from forestry industries.
He said Zimbabwe adheres to international protocols that advocate the protection of the environment, adding that the country is looking forward to commemorating the International Year of Forests in 2011 as well as the United Nations Decade for Biodiversity till 2020. President Mugabe said wild fruits and indigenous trees were an important part of traditional norms and values.
He said he was saddened that the current generation does not value such resources.
“Vana vedu havachaziva michero kana mazita emiti, havachamboziva (Today’s youth barely knows the names of our wild fruits at all). Hachisi Chirungu chete kana kuruzeva havachaziva kuti uyu mukuti, uyu muzhanje. Isu kuHurumende hatingamborege izvi zvichiitika (Government cannot allow this to continue). Zvino nyika yedu irikuendepi kana tichidaro? (Where is our country heading if we remain on that path?),” he said.
This year’s commemorations were held under the theme “A Tree Today, a Forest Tomorrow” and the chosen tree was Munyii (Umunyi in Ndebele and Bird Plum in English).
The event was also graced by Environment and Natural Resources Management Minister Francis Nhema, Mashonaland East Governor Cde Aneas Chigwedere, senior Government officials, Members of Parliament, traditional leaders and other dignitaries.
Two thousand trees donated by diamond mining concern Mbada Diamonds were also planted during the commemorations while several institutions that include the Forestry Commission, Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Friends of the Environment and Allied Timbers held an exhibition.
Members of the Friends of the Environment last week walked from Gweru to Harare and planted 4 000 trees along the way as part of an ongoing afforestation programme. The organisation is seeking to plant 500 million trees by 2015.
Initiated in 1980, the National Tree Planting Day is commemorated on the first Saturday of December to promote environmental sustainability.
At yesterday’s event, the Forestry Commission presented President Mugabe with an honorary certificate for his commitment to afforestation and the National Tree Planting Day.
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