Chinhoyi – NYAMASANGA Secondary School in Makonde District, was the
centre of activities for this year’s National Tree Planting Day (NTPD), running
under the theme Tree and forest for ecosystems, restoration and improved
livelihoods, as farmers learnt how to embrace and grow fruit trees.
The first Saturday of December is commemorated annually since December 1980.
Muhute, water berry or szyzium cordatum is the tree of the year.
The event was graced by Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution
Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and
Broadcasting Services, Kindness Paradza, and Councillor Admire T.
Mupandaguta.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mliswa-Chikoka led the
event by planting muhute tree.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said the tree had many
benefits. People could use Muhute for shade, as fruits or for medicinal purposes,
among others.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched the Presidential Horticulture Scheme,
under which anyone can access the grafted fruit trees from the Forestry
Commission.
Mliswa-Chikoka said: “We should plant trees every day, especially fruit trees and
encourage each other to protect our forests and trees. We are also urging people to
open up orchards as the Forestry Commission is there to help you with all
knowledge and some of the resources needed.”
President Mnangagwa had opened up ways and platforms that are leaving no one
and no place behind.
A representative of the Forestry Commission, E S Magumeni, said: “Planting trees
is important such that trees should be planted every day, not just annually.”
She said that through the Presidential Horticulture Scheme the Commission was
providing high breed grafted fruit trees, which reflected the theme of improved
livelihoods.
Magumeni said they were other programmes that the Commission was
implementing and this included the Tobacco Wood Energy Programme (TWEP)
and City and Towns Beautification.
TWEP is targeting tobacco farmers so that each farmer has a portion of land to
plant trees for tobacco curing, while City and Towns Beautification is targeting
urban settlers as the Commission in partnership with local authorities will plant
ornamental trees to beautify the urban areas, especially the parks.
The Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services,
Kindness Paradza, said that trees were important in the sense that business wise
one can derive apiary, medicinal products and fruits.
“We must guard trees to avoid climate change, which is already affecting us.”
Paradza said farmers must go with title deeds to the banks so that they can be
granted Command Agriculture loans.
Cllr Mupandaguta said he was thankful that his ward was picked to host the NTPD
activity. He said that famers must embrace the Presidential Horticulture Scheme.
“We will safely guard the trees given to us by the Forestry Commission. We are
looking for well-wishers to assist us with fence so that we can have security around
the school,” Cllr Mupandaguta said.
