Climate-related disasters reduction: Rotary’s valuable contribution

BY STEVE EPHRAEM

ROTARY District 9210’s District Governor (DG), Tom Kamwendo and his wife have planted some trees in Chipinge and Chimanimani in Zimbabwe during his tour of Rotary Club of Chipinge on November 19 and 20, 2024.

On November 19, DG Kamwendo planted a mahogany tree in Chipinge town at the club’s climate project along Chipinge-Birchenough Bridge Highway. The event was graced by government arms of Chipinge Rural District Council, Chipinge Town Council and Forestry Commission.

On November 20, DG Kamwendo descended onto Chimanimani where he planted an orange tree at Mumera Community Nutrition Garden at Gudyanga in Chimanimani. The garden is supported by World Vision.

Rotary is an equal partner with World Vision in a project named Partners of Environment Project on Ecosystem Services in Chimanimani.

For the partnership, World Vision chose to rehabilitate two irrigation schemes: the one at Gudyanga (ward 20) and another one at Shinja (ward 9).

In his speech in Chipinge, DG Tom said, “We are very happy to be here my wife and I to plant this symbolic plant on the outskirts of Chipinge so that we can show the importance of planting trees in fighting climate change.

“That is a programme carried out in four countries that are in Rotary District 9210. I want to comment the Rotary Club of Chipinge and our partners here the Council and the Forestry Commission for working on this project together in the interest of mankind.”

Rotary’s tree-planting initiative in Chipinge and also its partnership with World Vision in Chimanimani is a vital step towards reducing climate-induced disasters considering that the region was seriously affected by Tropical Cyclone Idai of 2019 which left more than 250 people dead and thousands others injured or missing.

Rotary Club of Chipinge’s partnership with local government arms, such as Chipinge Rural District Council, Chipinge Town Council, and Forestry Commission, demonstrates their commitment to collaborative efforts in addressing climate change. This partnership will help raise awareness about the importance of tree planting and environmental conservation among local communities.

By rehabilitating irrigation schemes and promoting sustainable agriculture practices in Chimanimani, Rotary and World Vision’s initiative will contribute to improved food security, enhanced resilience to climate-related disasters, and sustainable livelihoods for local communities

Zimbabwe is in dire need of climate actors. Rotary’s tree-planting initiatives in Chipinge and Chimanimani is a valuable contribution to Zimbabwe’s climate change mitigation efforts, and its impact will be felt for generations to come.