Sharon Chigeza
MUTARE-A groundbreaking campaign promoting fire awareness and bee-keeping was held last week at Mount Chiremba Secondary School in Mutasa South Constituency, aiming to curb veld fires while creating sustainable eco-nomic opportunities through apiculture.
The initiative, which stresses responsible land management and community empowerment, seeks to enhance household incomes and biodiversity conservation.
By protecting forests and promoting beekeeping, the programme supports climate resilience and economic growth, paving the way for a more sustainable future in the region.
Beekeeping offers multiple benefits, including income generation from honey and beeswax, improved crop pollination, and ecosystem preservation. It also fosters biodiversity, sustainable farming, and rural entrepreneurship, particularly benefiting marginalised groups.
Speaking at the event, Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, said the Government was committed to environmental protection.
“Bees play a vital role in pollination, food security, and providing communities with stable income. Protecting forests and promoting beekeeping strengthens climate resilience and drives economic progress, said Minister Mugadza.
The campaign, held under the theme ‘Prevent Veld Fires, Protect Forests and Bees, Safeguard Livelihoods and Grow the Economy,’ aligns with national efforts to merge ecological conservation with economic empowerment.
“This initiative is a crucial step toward long-term sustainability, where safe-guarding bees and forests directly contributes to growth in Mutasa and across Zimbabwe,” Minister Mugadza added.
The programme marks a proactive approach to addressing environmental challenges while unlocking new livelihood opportunities for local communities.
