Tree planting – regreening Zimbabwe
Re-greening the province will help lessen the disastrous effects of climate change, especially in disaster prone areas like Chimanimani, Chipinge and Buhera, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Nokuthula Matsikenyiri has said.Minister Matsikenyiri aired these sentiments earlier today when she officiated the commemorations of National Tree Planting Day at Mhakwe Primary School in Chimanimani.She said planting one tree only during the annual commemorations is not enough as Zimbabweans have to develop a culture of tree planting.“Let us re-green Zimbabwe and make it a regular habit to plant trees not just on the National Tree Planting Day but on every other day thoroughout the year.“Had we done this before, climate change effects caused by deforestation during the Cyclone Idai disaster would not have been so severe. The trees would have helped avoid most landslides,” she said.This year the country is celebrating and planting the Monkey Bread Tree (Musekesa). Its fruits are highly nutritious and are used as feed for domestic and wild animals while its leaves can be used for medicinal purposes, among other uses of the tree.