The ManicaPost
Phillip Mataranyika
“THE real thing that has stopped us is the awful weather, but I do not regret this journey which has shown that men can endure hardship and help one another”.
These are words written by explorer Scotsman Robert Scott, later to be found etched on a tablet at the North Pole after he and his mates died of severe cold as they explored the North Pole in their efforts to know more about the world around them.
If Friends of the Environment (FOTE) were to write something today, following the lead of Robert Scott, they could say: “The real thing that has caused us to want to walk for trees is the effects of the awful climate change we see every day. We don’t regret walking the many kilometres we have walked to raise awareness about the dangers we face as a globe from climate change if we continue cutting down more trees than we plant.”
Tree planting has been described by scientists as an effective way of fighting the modern scourge, the threat to our very own existence, what I would like to call the twin towers of climate change and global warming.
For so many years man has been cutting down trees for his immediate benefit for better or worse. Some of the trees he cuts down are for keeping himself warm, others are so he can heat or cook his food, a lot more he cuts to cure tobacco which he smokes to feed his hobby. While we accept the need for man to have access to the resources that nature gave him, it is the sustainable use of the resources all around him that he hasn’t practiced effectively.
Ten years ago a group of men and women sat in my office, the subject of discussion being what we could do to delay, halt or reverse the effects of climate change. It was agreed that we work towards planting 500 million trees by the year 2026.
Three things were agreed upon which are:
- To start walkathons to raise environmental awareness and promote sustainable use of our natural resources,
- To establish tree seedling nurseries to deal with the supply side and conservation of trees and;
- To start planting trees in order to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change and global warming.
The elephant in the room was funding. We soon realised that establishing tree seedling nurseries required funding, walking as a group required funding too.
Together we compiled a list of corporates and individuals we would approach for funding.
Top of the list were my former boss, Mr Luke Ngwerume, then CEO of Old Mutual Zimbabwe. Mr Washington Matsaira, then CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Zimbabwe; my very good friends, Mr Willard Zireva, then boss of OK Zimbabwe Limited, Mr Alex Mhembere boss of Zimplats and Mr Winston Chitando, then boss of Mimosa Mining Company and now Minister of Mines; and others.
The message we took to them was simple — “climate change is real, so is global warming, we need you and us to do our part to delay, halt or better still, we could work together to reverse it. How? By working together to plant trees”. With those few words, each of them pledged their organisation’s support to the worthy cause.
We soon received funding from Old Mutual to establish Zimunya High School tree seedling nursery in Manicaland. Zimplats gave us enough funds to establish two nurseries, Nyangwene and Turf Primary School in Mashonaland West Province, while Mimosa Mining Company funded the establishment of Mtshingwe Primary School tree seedling nursery in the Midlands Province.
The big deal then was OK Zimbabwe Limited who bought into the idea and entrusted us with funding for four nurseries to start off with, Muzogwi, Kutsukunya, Masasi and Mpandashango schools.
After Mr Washington Matsaira retired from Standard Chartered Bank, his successor, Mr Ralph Watungwa,, came to the party with funding for Madziwa tree seedling nursery.
This was how we got started with the establishment of tree seedling nurseries.
Regarding the Annual 500 Million Tree Walkathon, with the first one being done from Gweru to Harare, a distance of almost 300km over seven days, funding came from everywhere and everyone. We were honoured to be received on arrival by founding father and former President RG Mugabe, who himself was an advocate for tree planting, having launched the national tree planting day soon after our independence.
It has been gruelling as it has been fun. Ten years later, there isn’t one of us who would do what we have done differently. We are still walking and establishing tree seedling nurseries. Our target of 500 million trees by year 2026 still stands as more and more people see the need and benefits.
Should it happen that we fail to reverse climate change and global warming and something serious happens, we must leave a tablet that those who come after us must read like did Robert Scott and his mates at the North Pole.
Messrs Luke Ngwerume, Winston Chitando, Alex Mhembere, Willard Zireva, Ralph Watungwa, Jonas Mushosho, Alex Siyavora, Albert Katsande and the organisations they lead are the true heroes of the Friends of the Environment. They allowed us to dream and helped us live it.
Should we succeed in our endeavour and help delay, halt or reverse climate change and global warming, it is to them that we owe a debt of gratitude.
The then Minister of Environment, my good friend Mr Francis Nhema, we can never thank him enough. Over the 10 years of our work in the environment space we have worked with outstanding men and women. Ministers of the Environment at some point never missed one function we had. Whether it was tree seedling nursery unveiling, sending us off on a walkathon or tree planting.
Minister Oppah Zvipange Muchinguri-Kashiri believed in our vision to plant 500 million trees when she was Minister of Environment.
Then Minister of Environment Prisca Mupfumira always made sure our programmes got the necessary Government support.
Vice President Chiwenga has always been a pillar of strength in our re-greening efforts, sending us goodwill messages with every walkathon we have done. When we asked him to be our Guest of Honour at the launch of the Harare-Mt Darwin walkathon in 2013, then as Commander Defence Forces, he chose not to delegate.
We were honoured to have him speak to us in person.
We have worked with a number of permanent secretaries in the Ministry of Environment, starting with my good friend, Mr Prince Mupazviriho, with whom we shared the conceptual framework of what is now a way of life for most of us, tree planting. Secretaries Dr Thokozile Chitepo and Ambassador Grace Mutandiro were always gracious and very supportive. Current permanent secretary of the ministry charged with the Environment Mr Munesushe Munodawafa has been extremely supportive.
The Ministry of Defence has escorted us on all our walkathons providing cover for walkers and controlling traffic on our dangerous and treacherous roads.
The Ministry of Home Affairs also.
The Ministry of Education has stood with us all the way. They have allowed schools under their charge to provide us with accommodation, kilometres away from home. I never got the chance to go to a boarding school as a school child myself as my parents couldn’t afford it, but through our work with Friends of the Environment, I have had the chance to experience life in a boarding school as we share dining rooms and dormitory facilities with schoolchildren on our annual walkathons.
OK Zimbabwe Limited has always ensured that we have enough supplies for every walkathon. The Sahwira Events team always prepares sumptuous meals while Tanganda Tea Company provides us with water which keeps us hydrated as well as revitalised after hours and kilometres of non-stop walking.
We worked with the urban grooves group Xtra-Large, to produce the “Miti Hupenyu” album, many thanks to Norman and Jimu.
The men and women who started walking for trees with us 10 years ago have always received medals for walking long distances. This year, those who were there when we started and have remained with us, will get in addition to a medal for the walk from Chinhoyi to Magunje, a 10-year medal of recognition for their sacrifice. It is them that have made this excursion fun and exciting in the face of huge challenges.
Our target of 500 million trees is looking a real possibility with every day that passes.
We owe it to ourselves and to posterity.
A tree today, forests tomorrow.
