SustainZim Issue 10

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QUARTER 02 ISSUE 10 / 18

SMART FARMING

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Mushroom farming for food security in Zimbabwe

BIODIVERSITY

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Indigenous Fruits of Zimbabwe

SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS

Exceptional 10 The Resurrecting Bush

CLIMATE CHANGE

change in 12 Climate urban areas

F E AT U R E

Update: Towards the National Adaptation Plan Page 8

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S USTA I N A B L E FA R M I N G

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QUARTER 02 ISSUE 10 / 18

SMART FARMING

Mushroom farming

food security in 02 for Zimbabwe

BIODIVERSITY

05

Indigenous Fruits of Zimbabwe

BIODIVERSITY

Exceptional 10 The Resurrecting Bush

CLIMATE CHANGE

change in 12 Climate urban areas

F E AT U R E

Update: Towards the National Adaptation Plan

Mushroom farming for food security in Zimbabwe

By Nyasha Mupaso, Mushtella

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SustainZim is a publication that promotes a green culture within Zimbabwean homes, schools, work places and everyday lives. It aims to step up the fight against Global Warming and Climate Change by raising awareness about the need to reduce our carbon footprint and a push towards sustainable development.

It will showcase green initiatives already being done by government, civil society groups, companies and individuals.

Mushroom farming for food security in Zimbabwe.There are many types of mushrooms grow across the globe. My focus in this article is oyster Mushroom due to its quick turn around, easier to grow and can be grown anywhere in Zimbabwe. growing uses simple technology that can be understood by everyone, however let me hasten to say knowledge is critical, get training before growing.

No arable land required

PARTNERING We are available to work as implementing partners for projects in Zimbabwe. Get in touch if you would like to partner with us sustainzim@povoafrika.org PUBLISHERS POVOAfrika Trust (MA0001023/2015) ZIM - Harare +263 77 228 3186 / +263 77 291 8810, 1 Verona Gardens, 70 Livingstone Ave RSA - Johannesburg +27 72 600 5283 / +27 760999770 210 Klein Drakenstein, 31 Snipe Street, Horizon, 1724, Roodepoort

PHOTO: BAYNHAM GOREDEMA

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KEY PERSONNEL EDITOR Archibald Mathibela PROJECT COORDINATOR Raymond Muwaniri DESIGN AND LAYOUT Baynham Goredema FINANCE DIRECTOR Rodrick Longwe CARTOONIST Tafadzwa Tarumbwa DISCLAIMER SustainZim is published by POVOAfrika Trust. The information, opinions and views set out in this journal are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of POVOAfrika Trust nor any of their partners.

Neither POVOAfrika Trust nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein. Neither are they responsible for siting references within articles, stated facts or credits to photos supplied, this is the responsibility of the contributor. Rights to the photographs and articles remain with the photographers and with the authors respectively.

Contact them respectively for reproduction. While all care has been taken during proofing, errors and omissions may slip through and we sincerely apologise for these.

Empowered lives. Resilient nations.

Special thanks to UNDP ZIMBABWE for partnering with us for the production of this issue.

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he country is facing the challenge of food security as drought is now an annual phenomena.

Though other parts may receive normal rainfall many parts experience perennial droughts. More and more people are turning to mushrooms, the best part is that people in farms and rural areas are now moving into mushrooms, our dream is to see mushrooms being grown across the country for reasons stated below.

Mushrooms can still be grown after a drought. This is so because after drought there is plenty of agricultural waste that remain. Mushroom farming will be affected to lesser a extend as compared to other crops. It is affected by availability of water however the water required for mushroom farming is no much as that required by field crops, further mushroom growing is done indoors where the rate of evaporisation is suppressed.

Fast growing mushrooms can be harvested 25-30 days from “planting date. There is no crop with such capability. Making mushrooms important in fighting hunger.

Use of waste materials Mushrooms are grown on agricultural or industrial waste, this contributes to low production cost. Producing food from waste is so sustainable it also reduces carbon emitted into the atmosphere as agricultural waste that is usually burnt is put to good use by producing food, the waste is used as a soil conditioner which goes a long way in reducing erosion and high productivity with conventional farming.

Grown all year round It be grow all year round, further most crops cannot be grown in winter except in green houses which are very expensive. The majority of Zimbabweans can’t afford green houses. Mushroom houses can be built using locally available materials like pole and thatch houses.

Employment creation Mushroom farming like most agricultural practices is labor intensive and a such it creates a lot of employment.

No need for electricity We are aggressively promoting oyster mushrooms which can be grown even where there is no electricity.

Si mple tech nolo g y Mu sh ro om

Mushroom does not require arable land as it is grown on prepared growing media which is not soil, so!

Mushrooms can be grown anywhere, further Mushrooms can be grown on small pieces of land, those in urban areas use their backyards. The best advantage is it uses vertical farming concepts thus minimising area used.

Most people who stay in rural areas depend on agriculture and its important to look into other areas especially as the country face many challenges for alternative food supply Source of Manure After growing mushrooms the waste can be used as a soil conditioner or mixed to compost.

So mushroom relies on other plants and after harvesting the plants relies on Mushroom. This is the way it is in the forests, it goes on and on. Very sustainable.

One can grow mushrooms on a full time basis or seasonally. Some grow conventional crops in summer and then venture into mushrooms off season to boost income, others supplement their incomes growing mushrooms on top of the conventional crops they grow.

Nyasha Mupaso founder of Mushtella Specialty Mushrooms has a passion for mushrooms. His work stretches from mushroon spawn production to mushroom cultivation and ethnomycology and training.

FB: Mushtella Specialty Mushrooms Email:nmupaso@mushtella.com www.mushtella.com Tw: @mushtella

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E D I TOR I A L

The Climate ‘is’ Changing

By Raymond Muwaniri, POVOAfrika Trust

e have 3 articles by Joy Mlambo from the UNDP, Joy has been a regular contributor to the paper since the first issue in 2016. In her 1st article Joy discusses how climate change is affecting people with disabilities, especially those with mobility issues and albinism. In Zimbabwe we are still very far in terms of catering for people with disabilities as compared to the western countries. Our infrastructure, transport system and service providers do not cater enough for people with disabilities, so it is a double-edged sword with climate change affecting everyone especially the poor, of which most disabled are.

In her next article Joy discusses the National Adoption Plan (NAP) and the strategies suitable for the various areas and sectors given the specific nature of the climate change effects.

An example would be the growing of small grain crops in areas affected by low rainfall where maize is failing. Joy reiterates that climate change should be integrated into plans, policy, budget and activities.

The NAP i s a l re ady b e i ng implemented through stocktaking which is consultations and climate change assessments, this is being done using local authorities. In relation to Joy’s 1st article, marginalised people are also being consulted. In the 3rd article Joy discusses how climate change is affecting urban areas and how the adoption strategies in these areas should be tackled. She goes on to list measures that can help cities cope with the different climate change impacts.

Food security is becoming a major issue in Zimbabwe and new ways to bolster should be considered. Nyasha Mupaso is a mushroom farmer who talks about mushroom farming to increase food security in Zimbabwe.

He explains how mushrooms can be grown using agricultural and industrial waste and that arable land is not relevant for growing mushrooms,

PHOTO SOURCE: BIO INNOVATION ZIMBABWE

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As we draw closer to this year’s elections, it is important that we put in place a government that prioritises the environment and climate change. The effects of climate change are now being felt all over the country, some regions more than others but effects are widespread. For those who are poor and vulnerable it is a case of a double headed problem, ‘break and butter’ issues and climate change becoming a daily problem. In this issue we have articles that discuss how climate change is affecting the daily lives of regular people in both rural and in urban areas.

Yet again I would like to thank our contributors of content, it is them who make this paper possible and relevant. I would also like to thank UNDP for funding this specific issue, it will therefore be available in print for those who would like copies. Please feel free to contact us at contribute@sustainzim.org and arrangements can be made to distribute to you. As we head into the elections please remember that the environment is also important, without it we would seize to exit, so please vote for the political party and leaders that you feel are best places to help the people as well as the environment.

How to contribute PRINT RUN

Submission Guidelines they can grow anywhere. Baynham Goredema, SustainZim staff, in his article showcases the different indigenous fruits that are found in Zimbabwe. Some of these wild fruits can be harvested but as the population increases habitat is lost, trees and plants are cut down to make way for settlements. As the generational gap increases between the old and the young, rural to urban migration, indigenous knowledge of wild foods is not being passed down and is lost. The collection and harvesting of wild foods can help bolter food security as well as lead the population back to traditional, healthier forms of food. Organisations like Bio Innovations Zimbabwe (BIZ) are doing their best to bring indigenous foods to the forefront by; buying them from locals and allowing for income to be generated to feed their families. This is the case in an article by Tracy Maphumo who talks about the ‘resurrecting bush’, which is providing income for families in dry

areas where maize does not grow as well due to the low rainfall. The twigs are used to make a tea with medicinal purposes explained in the article, the leaves are also used for different purposes including the treatment of different ailments and other traditional medicines. BIZ currently trains local farmers on business opportunities using local resources.

Archie Mathibela discusses the key to Zimbabwe’s socio-economic development being a sustainable communication strategy. He talks about the essential link between the citizens and the government to help achieve the national vision and to exploit the emerging opportunities.

He suggests steps for the current government to take to ensure the strategy is effective. In the last article Nevson Mpofu, a regular contributor to the paper, discusses the lack of; climate finance, political will and social cohesion in Africa to fight climate change.

10 000 COPIES

Articles to be between 350 - 750 words maximum.

Content must be original work, and must not have been published/accepted for publication elsewhere.

In the event that there is a request to republish the work elsewhere, POVOAfrika will link the creator directly and will not act as a middle man.

It is the responsibility of authors to ensure that all copyright issues have been addressed prior to submission.

Any consequences for copyright law of infringement will be duly borne by the defaulting author.

You the creator will retain all rights to your work.

All articles will also be published online on www.sustainzim.org After article has been published on the website the author may publish on their own platforms.

If you have any articles, events, news snippets, please send them to the contribute@sustainzim.org

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C L I M AT E C H A N G E

Climate Change And Persons Living With Disabilities

By Joy Mlambo, UNV – UNDP

Heavy rains, tropical cyclones and droughts do not discriminate when they hit. But when disaster strikes, poor and vulnerable groups are often left behind and tend to be more affected in comparison to other population groups. Furthermore, the path to recovering from the impact of climate change hazards and disasters is not one of equal opportunity.

Proceedings of the Consultative Workshop – Sign Language Interpreters

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ue to existing resource access disparities, some population groups face increased exposure to the negative effects of climate change. For persons living with disabilities, their situation is even more desperate. One of the central pledges of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Agenda is to “leave no one behind”.

It is thus important that vulnerable and marginalised groups are included from the start in preparing for climate change adaptation and that the inequalities and the risks that they face are understood in order to plan and invest in an inclusive manner.

During a recent consultative workshop on how climate change was affecting vulnerable groups as part of developing the stocktaking report for the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), the Chairperson of the Federation of Organisations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe, Mr Khupe argued for the need to address challenges faced by people with disabilities and noted that, “In developing countries like Zimbabwe, disabled people suffer an uneven number of fatalities due to climate change.

For example, we are particularly vulnerable in disaster situations including extreme weather events due to mobility constraints. Persons living

with disabilities are most likely to be left behind or abandoned during evacuation and face discrimination and gaps in access to services and resources during recovery and reconstruction.”

Mr Nyoni, from the Zimbabwe Albino Association also weighed in on how persons living with albinism were being affected by climate change, “Youth are faced by various cross cutting climate change impacts, however being a young person, living with a disability intensifies the vulnerability. As young people living with albinism, the increased temperatures being felt as a result of climate change pose a great threat. Yes, we are using sun screen but this is not readily accessible to everyone and there are a lot of fake products on the market. In addition, the sun screens that we are using are not as effective as they are made for countries that experience lower temperatures such as the United Kingdom from where they are currently being imported for our use.”

Planning for climate change adaptation – in an inclusive way Mr. Khupe, noted with concern how persons living with disability were very vulnerable to climate change hazards yet they were seldom included in planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of climate change adaptation efforts,

“Persons living with disability lack information on climate change as it is rarely in formats they are able to access such as braille and audio. This creates an information gap which is the first step towards building climate resilience.”

His sentiments were echoed by Emily Matingo from the Climate Change Management Department in the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate, who said, “It is extremely important that we understand the impact of climate change on vulnerable groups including women, children, youth, the elderly and persons living with disabilities. Even though these groups are mostly categorized as vulnerable to climate change, they are also resourceful given their ability to push decision makers to take action and because they provide examples of good practices and ideas for how to improve climate change risk response and adaptation options. Incorporating views from vulnerable groups thus helps to enhance adaption planning ultimately increasing community resilience by ensuring a wholly comprehensive and country owned National Adaptation Plan”.

Mainstreaming considerations on disabilities into climate change adaptation The participants in the workshop highlighted the need to ensure that national adaptation planning, policies and programmes take the needs of vulnerable groups into consideration. Mr. Nyoni also took the opportunity to express the long term climate change adaptation priorities specifically for people living with albinism noting that, “Climate policies and strategies need to be disability sensitive, advocating for the standardisation of products such as sun screens as well as advocating for the manufacturing of locally based products that are suitable to the increasing temperatures”. In his final remarks, Mr. Khupe thanked the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate and the UNDP for the initiative and noted that consultation of persons living with disabilities and other marginalised groups was a step towards developing the stocktaking report of the NAP in an inclusive manner.

The stocktaking exercise of the National Adaptation Plan was initiated under the Scaling up Adaptation through Strengthening Integrated Planning Systems Project implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate through the Environmental Management Agency with support from UNDP.

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B I OD I V E R S I T Y

Indigenous Fruits of Zimbabwe

By Baynham Goredema, XEALOS DESIGN

A few years ago I was in Watsomba and came across so many indigenous wild fruits and it took me back to the days when we were growing up and all these fruits were in abundance in the wild and you didn’t have to buy them. The effects of climate change and expansion of urban areas have been evident at a macro level and has led to the dwindling of most of these fruit trees. I took photos of as many of the fruits as possible and also added a few more which I got over the past two years. I have tried to get the fruits straight from the tree so they are as fresh as possible.

Nhunguru – governor’s plum, Flacourtia indica in the Flacourtiaceae

Nhengeni – sour plum, Ximenia caffra in the family Olacaceae. There is another species of Ximenia commonly found, which is Ximenia americana. It has slightly smaller fruits, more orange than red in colour, and its leaves are hairless and blue-green, whereas the one here has larger, reddish fruits, and hairy green leaves and stems. In Zambia, this red-fruited one is known as the ‘female’ one, and X americana as the ‘male’, but this is not a botanical distinction, more of a cultural one.

The use of indigenous has been used loosely to refer to fruits that are found in the wild in Zimbabwe’s countryside.

I would like to thank Evelyn Roe for providing the English and Latin names for the fruits.

Whenever I come to Zimbabwe I always look forward to getting my fix of indigenous fruits.

Some are also known by different names in the different regions of the country. If you have any additional info including descriptions of the fruits, taste, seasons, eating instructions etc please feel free to send them through.

Matunduru/Mutunduru – Garcinia buchananii, granite mangosteen, in the family Clusiaceae.

Hubva/Tsubvu – Smelly-berry fingerleaf* Vitez mombassae, in the Lamiaceae family. *According to the Zim flora website, www.zimbabweflora.co.zw.

Send your contributions to contribute@sustainzim.org

Hute/Mukute – waterberry, Syzygium cordatum, in the family Myrtaceae.

Nzambara – simple-spined num-num, Carissa edulis in the family Apocynaceae.

Masawu – jujube, Ziziphus abyssinica in the Rhamnaceae family.

Mazhanje/Mahobohobo - sugar plum, Uapaca kirkiana is a species of plant in the family Phyllanthaceae.

Tsombori/Tsambati – wild grape,* Lannea edulis in the Anacardiaceae. *The Zim flora website calls it this but I haven’t heard that name, and it’s not in the grape family.

Matamba – monkey-orange, Strychnos, but not sure which one in the family Strychnaceae.

Hacha/Muhacha – mobola plum, Parinari curatellifolia in the family Chrysobalanaceae.

Nyii – birdplum / ‘African sweets’, Berchemia discolor in the family Rhamnaceae.

Matohwe – snot-apple, Azanza garckeana, in the family Malvacea.

Mususu – lantana Looks like Lantana camara to me. A seriously invasive plant introduced to South Africa over a hundred years ago and spreading rampantly throughout the southern hemisphere.

There are native Lantana species, but I don’t think this is one.

Family Verbenaceae.

Evelyn Roe studied Botany at the University of Edinburgh and now work as a researcher with the North-West Naturalists’ Society of Zambia, which is based in Livingstone. I also have 16 years’ experience teaching biology, in the UK and Botswana.

One of my first projects in Zambia was a floristic survey at the Victoria Falls on behalf of NHCC. She has published Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area with Helen Pickering in 200

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E D U C AT I ON

Mountain Guides Boost Zimbabwe Tourism

By Jane High

CHIMANIMANI MOUNTAINS - ‘WATER TOWERS’ FOR ZIMBABWE AND MOZAMBIQUE

continued from Issue 09

We enjoy one of the most pleasant (temperature wise) climates in the world right now, however like everyone else, we are feeling the symptoms of climate change. Erratic weather patterns, shorter periods of rain or unseasonal heavy rain with regular drought periods. This poses a particular problem in mountainous areas. Frequent droughts and periods of heavy rain on slopes displaces top soil and you can get landslides like we did in Cyclone Elene in 2000. We have another problem particularly in Chimanimani with mining activity happening in the water courses.

This panning on mountain streams removes the vegetation and so when you get a big flood there is no longer a sponge to slow the water down. Nature has come up with an ingenious system in mountainous areas to produce lifesaving, crystal clear water. Our mountains are effectively water towers to the nation -they act as the watersheds.

In Chimanimani over 130 000 people rely on the water coming off the mountains. Once you start gold panning you destroy the capacity of the vegetation to absorb the water that is running off the slopes. Instead of getting crystal clear water you end up with just red soil coming down and that is clearly devastating for the downstream people. Their water supply is no longer that perfectly clean water, in some cases its carrying toxic chemicals because gold panning requires cyanide and mercury.

Eventually downstream rivers silt up and stop running altogether. These are current problems for people like the communities downstream in Tarka and Haroni Rusitu for instance, where they used to get beautiful clear water coming off the mountain. The once magnificent Haroni is now just a torpid body of red sludge, destroying their agricultural activities and health, leading those people directly towards poverty. Again it comes down to our ignorance around the importance of

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RAIN THAT FALLS ON THE BARE ROCK RUNS DOWN TO THE GULLIES WHERE THE EVERGREEN FORESTS SLOW DOWN THE WATER AND STORE SOME IN THE GROUND

THE FOREST THEN RELEASES WATER INTO GRASSLAND/ WETLAND IN THE VALLEY BELOW

THE WETLAND SOAKS UP WATER AND STORES IT UNDERGROUND WHICH PREVENTS RUNOFF AND FLASH FLOODING. THIS WATER IS PURIFIED BY THE PLANTS AND SOIL

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BUNDI RIVER THE WETLAND RELEASES WATER SLOWLY INTO RIVERS AND STREAMS EVEN IN DRY MONTHS WITH NO SURFACE WATER WOODLANDS ON THE SLOPES HOLD THE SOIL WITH THEIR ROOTS AND HELP WATER SEEP INTO THE GROUND

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THESE STREAMS FLOW DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO THE HARONI RIVER BELOW & SLOWED DOWN BY FORESTS ON THE WAY

THE HARONI CARRIES THIS CLEAN WATER TO 130 000 PEOPLE IN THE AREA - A SERVICE TOO VALUABLE TO BE MEASURED

HARONI RIVER

water, soils a n d clean air. The equation is as simple as they come.

Mining and maintenance of our biodiversity are incompatible. No matter who tries to persuade you differently, that statement will remain fact because we cannot replicate nature, we cannot repair or replace thousands of years of evolution. Climate change will hasten the calamity.

13. What can be done to mitigate or adapt to these changes?

In terms of mitigating the changes the first thing is for Zimbabweans in general to start to appreciate the complex role of nature. It is nature which supplies our most basic needs. Ignorance around our natural environment has to end. Education in primary school about the importance of trees, water catchment areas and wetlands should extend into every single year of secondary and tertiary education. The complexity of the subject requires this. From Grade one to university level we need an

appreciation of the role of nature in providing us with clean water, breathable air and soils in which we can grow our food. How are they formed and how do we keep these wonderful soils? We need a thorough understanding of processes that require to be vigilantly protected, so that we continue to enjoy clean water, clean air and healthy soils.

We like to boast about how educated Zimbabweans are but I do not agree at all. We Zimbabweans are horribly ignorant, or careless, about the most critical things relating to our future health and fortunes. Unfortunately it seems that too many Zimbabweans see no relation between preserving trees for instance and clean air. Is this taught in schools? You will see in Chimanimani and many other areas, Zimbabweans walking around with catapults because they have no appreciation of the role that birds play in keeping our crops safe. Fiscal shrikes will sit all day in a particular tree just flying down to an area, eating insects.

Often you will see them over peoples maize crops, and what they are doing is removing caterpillars and various insects that could be threatening the

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ILLUSTRATION SOURCE: CHIMANIMANI TOURIST ASSOCIATION

12. How is climate change affecting the area?

crop, yet someone will walk past and shoot that bird. Instead of a free service which the bird provides year after year, now the farmer has to buy poisons, insecticides and such. Recent studies have concluded that many of these insecticides don’t just kill the insects but they have a long term effect on humans. We are connecting this big growth of cancers in humans, to the chemicals we are using on our crops. Meanwhile we have a service being provided by birds but we just go around shooting them. We have no appreciation of the role that they are playing in providing us with safe food. Many birds pollinate plants, certain plants also rely on the birds to spread their seeds. Birds and insects maintain vegetation in critical areas where water is generated. Thousands of insects are involved in making and maintaining quality soils. Schools need to teach this.

14. Is the course aimed at tackling any of the Sustainable Development goals and how?

Absolutely. In terms of the Global Goals tourism is probably THE best

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E D U C AT I ON

having a ‘compost’ bin in our kitchens brings enormous approval from our visitors. They give us the thumbs up when they notice that we are trying to meet first world standards on sustainable growth. Zimbabweans who are in tourism should stick very closely to the global goals because their client is generally educated and is also seeking to do this himself. So it makes good business sense to develop our capacities in terms of sustainable development.

Chimanimani Mountains National Park is arguably Zimbabwe’s most important Biodiversity Hot Spot

high levels of people skills. It is also extremely good on gender equality which is Number 5 - we find that more than 54% of jobs in tourism are taken by women, so it’s excellent on that. One of the good things about tourism is that travellers are generally fairly educated, they require facilities that have clean water and sanitation, that use clean

PHOTOS: BAD RABBIT STUDIO

industry in the world to push all 17 globally. Right here in Chimanimani I can start with number one, No Poverty. We have been using tourism locally since 2012 to achieve this goal.

Tourists coming here have access to our program called Matsetso Stars Sport to Conservation which identifies and helps orphans or kids affected but the HIV scourge, to get school fees, uniforms, books etc. We have youngsters in Chimanimani who are sponsored by people as far away as Australia, Switzerland and Belgium. Their sponsor literally helps them for x number of years and hopes they will eventually go to university.

Educating kids is important because it gives them a chance get out of the cycle of poverty they are in. Several of our trainee guides have come through via Matsetso Stars Sport to Conservation. I won’t talk about all the goals but just looking at almost all of them tourism has the capacity to help. I have talked about Number 4 Education already so let’s look at number eight “good jobs and economic growth” - tourism is a tremendous industry because it is a job heavy, requiring individuals with

energy. These are goals number 6 and 7. They want to know that the cities they pass through are working toward sustainable goals within the communities. We have discovered that Tourists tend to support operators who show that they are responsible in their consumption and committed to their communities. A simple thing like

People further interested in the Zimbabwe Mountain Guide Training Course should contact Course Coordinator Jane High P.O. Box 75 . Chimanimani. or touristassociationchimanimani@gmail.com

Grow oyster mushrooms in 5 easy steps STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

www.mushtella .c o m

Dry cotton seed hulls, a by product of cooking oil extraction from cotton seed.

Wet and pasteurized cotton waste, ready for spawning “planting”

1 Day

1 Day

Mushroom spawn (“seed”) that is mixed with cotton seed hulls to make a block as shown in step 4.

Spawning/planting takes one day to complete, and one waits fourteen days to get to step 4 14 Days

STEP 5

STEP 4

Mushroom block fully covered with fungi and developing Mushroom pinheads (“germination”) in about 5 days mushrooms will be ready for harvesting.

5 Days 0773 842 677 @mushtella

Email:nmupaso@mushtella.com Mushtella Specialty Mushrooms

Mushroom block with mushrooms ready for harvesting.

5 Days

30

It takes about

DAYS 30 days to Harvest.

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F E AT U R E

Update - Towards the National Adaptation Plan

By Joy Mlambo, UNV – UNDP

The National Adaptation Plan n 2 0 1 6 , the Mi n i str y of Environment, Water and Climate embarked on the development of a stocktaking report for the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) under the project Integrated Planning Systems.

The NAP is meant to operationalize the National Climate Change Response Strategy of 2015 and the Climate Policy which was launched in 2018 through developing adaptation strategies that are suitable to the various areas and sectors given the context specific nature of climate change effects.

PHOTO : BAYNHAM GOREDEMA

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Progress of the development of the stocktaking report for the NAP Climate Change in urban areas consultative workshop: Bulawayo 1 February 2018

In addition to being a climate change adaptation action plan, the NAP will also facilitate the integration of climate change into development frameworks (plans, policies, budgets and activities) whose significance was underscored at a recent event by Emily Matingo, from the Climate Change Management Department in the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate emphasized the need to plan for climate change adaptation.

“It has been good to see a number of Ministries come to realise the impacts that climate change brings. They have started to adjust and implement ad hoc approaches to climate change planning such as encouraging the growing of small grain crops in areas where maize is no longer viable. We greatly welcome such initiatives as they are a stepping stone to our goal of achieving climate resilience”.

Speaking at the same workshop, Ms Matingo also provided a progress update for the NAP Development Process and noted, “Due to limited funding, the Integrated Planning Systems (IPS) Project has taken two of the seventeen steps of the NAP development process which are laying the groundwork and developing the stocktaking report. Since the start of the project, we have made a number of strides in the development of the stocktaking report for NAP. We have managed to carry out consultations in all 10 provinces and in 13 districts ...”

Climate Change Consultative Workshop Binga. 17 November 2016.

She added that, the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) will be backed up by District and Sectoral Adaptation Plans to support a cross-cutting, integrated approach to climate change adaptation efforts. The completion of the NAP will

also assist Zimbabwe to unlock climate financing mechanisms under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as well as funding from bilateral and multilateral channels.

To cover urban area climate change assessments, consultations were initiated with Urban Local Authorities through the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing which included local urban authorities from across Zimbabwe. In addition, vulnerable and marginalised groups were also consulted on how they were being affected by climate change as well as their medium to long term

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F E AT U R E

District Adaptation Planning Once the NAP is completed, it will provide an overarching framework of climate change action planning for Zimbabwe. However, since climate change effects are context specific, there is need to develop district, provincial and sectoral adaptation plans that are more targeted to the vulnerabilities being faced in each context. This also helps to integrate climate change considerations into day to day development plans, strategies, budgets and activities.

Effective institutions are at the heart of the country’s ability to respond to increasing climate hazards, and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate under the IPS Project has developed a manual which provides step by step guidance to support national and subnational government officials and development partners in adaptation planning. The guide focuses on climate change adaptation plans at district, sectoral and provincial level.

Making use of the manual (still under testing for finalisation) and an adaptation template, the districts of Chimanimani, Chiredzi and Buhera have been engaged to pilot the formulation of District Adaptation Plans (DAPs) under the IPS Project so that other districts can then learn from their experience.

Capacity building workshops have been carried out in the 3 districts who have formulated working DAPs which they are yet to finalise, cost and integrate into existing and future development processes, plans, strategies and budgets such as the Disaster Risk Management Plans and the 2018 - 2024 Strategic District Development Plan.

Chimanimani District Speaking at one of the workshops, Mr Matimba from Chimanimani Rural District Council had the following to say, “We have been trained on climate change adaptation planning including aspects on how to conduct a climate change vulnerability analysis and from it derive and prioritise adaptation options. From this, we were able to identify climate hazards for the district which are a potential threat to both livelihoods and ecosystem health”.

He highlighted that the increased frequency and intensity of cyclones as well as changing rainfall and temperature patterns were some of the main climatic hazards to consider in Chimanimani. The training also included a policy gap analysis and the development of a monitoring and evaluation framework for the District Adaptation Plan so as to constantly check effectiveness of adaptation options, learn from them and think ahead.

Chiredzi District In Chiredzi District, Mr Zanamwe from Chiredzi Rural District Council spoke about the adaptation planning initiative with much enthusiasm saying,

district is able to demonstrate capacity and good strategies for adaptation.

In addition, Mr Zanamwe indicated how the capacity building process for adaptation planning helped the district authorities realise that adaptation planning for resilience also involved other aspects, not directly brought about by the climatic hazards. The Chiredzi representative also highlighted the importance of working in partnerships to tackle climate change and acknowledged that the training had both included government officials, private sector and development partners working in the district.

this training, we have managed to realise the need to clearly articulate these issues through development of a DAP. Once finalised, the DAP proves to be a great tool that backstops development efforts for the district.”

In their closing rmarks, the teams noted how rewarding the process was and hoped it would allow them to access critical funding to their resource constrained districts and allow them to identify opportunities that they could tap into for economic growth through development of a DAP.

Buhera District In Buhera trained stakeholders were also encouraged to think big and not restrict themselves, when developing their adaptation options since the District Adaptation Plan was a document that could be used as a tool to direct development partners in the district for small and big actions and to leverage climate finance. Following the training, Mr Nduna from Buhera Rural District Council had the following to say, “We had already started embedding climate change into some of the work we are doing as a district. However through

“I now realise the importance and need for adaptation planning. If Chiredzi is to build climate resilience, we have to move away from the reactionary approach where we react to climate change only when damage has been done. We now have a working draft of the District Adaptation Plan for Chiredzi which we cannot wait to finalise and implement”.

He went on to explain that the process of developing a District Adaptation Plan had also opened the eyes of the council to think big in terms of accessing climate financing mechanisms that are available if the

PHOTOS SOURCE: UNV – UNDP

adaption priorities. The information that has been gathered so far forms part of a stocktaking report, which is the baseline for the development of a NAP.

The development of the stocktaking report for National Adaptation Plan development process was initiated under the Scaling up Adaptation through Strengthening Integrated Planning Systems (IPS) Project implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate through the Environmental Management Agency with support from UNDP. Though the project is ending in 2018, a 3 million dollar fund has been secured from the Green Climate Fund to upscale activities and come up with a wholly owned NAP building onto the stocktaking report achieved by the IPS project as well assist in developing of DAPs and Sectoral Adaptation Plans not initially targeted by the IPS project due to its limited funding.

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S USTA I N A B L E L I V E L I H OOD S

The Exceptional Resurrecting Bush

By Tracy Mapfumo

Bio-Innovation Zimbabwe

Medline lives in Ward 16 Chivi district, rural Zimbabwe. Her area has been receiving less and less rain over the past decade. Farmers like here have resorted to planting small grains, although some still stick to growing maize which has been dwindling in productivity over the years. For this reason, field crops fetch no income for Medline’s family of two adults and 7 dependents.

T

his year, Medline joined the Natural Resources Production Cooperative that sells resurrection bush twigs to Bio Innovation Zimbabwe, to raise money to look after her family since her husband is not employed. The plant is available in abundance on the hills around her home.

shrub with tough branches. For most of the year it looks like an upright bundle of red-brownish sticks with dead leaves, no more than 30-50cm high.

When the rains come the seemingly dead leaves quickly revive and become green -in some cases there are little red flowers as well- hence the name resurrection bush.

Of all the plant species that exist, this one possesses fascinating traits! A number of resurrecting plants exist in Southern Africa but Myrothammus flabellifolia is exceptional in that it is the only woody resurrection plant. This particular plant, commonly known as resurrection bush, Mufandichimuka (Shona) and Umafavuke (Ndebele), is a woody

The resurrection bush is very widespread in Zimbabwe. It is found only in shallow soil over rock, crevices and rocky hillsides, in full sun, where few other plants survive. The plant can also be cultivated.

Apart from resurrection bush, Medline also sells vegetables from her garden, marula kernels and dried Zumbani tea leaves, but resurrection bush is the most rewarding. She spends less

time on it because the production is straightforward (twigs are harvested when dry), and the prices offered are good.

Farmers trained by BIZ are made aware of business opportunities around local resources and most importantly to safeguard these resources for future generations. In the case of resurrection bush, only twigs or leaves are harvested meaning that the bush and roots are preserved to enable more twigs to regrow.

Collection is done between May and September, after the rains. Harvesting can also be done during short dry spells during the wet season, when the plant has dehydrated. For tea producers, the smaller twigs and dry leaves are collected. For extract production and

ornamental use, longer (20cm), dry, leafy sticks are picked.

The leaves are used as a traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments such as colds, kidney problems, asthma, backaches and headaches. Inhalation of smoke from burning leaves treats chest complaints and asthma.

Decoctions (herbal or iced tea) treat coughs, influenza, mastitis, backache, kidney disorders, haemorrhoids and abdominal pains, scurvy, menstrual pain, hypertension, halitosis and gingivitis.

The remarkable properties of this plant are the same ones that make resurrection bush tea so refreshing and good for you.

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S USTA I N A B L E L I V E L I H OOD S

A study at the University of Zimbabwe comparing resurrection bush tea to rooibos tea found that resurrection bush tea has antioxidant properties comparable to rooibos. Resurrection bush tea is a rich source of phenolic compounds which act as antioxidants and strong inhibitors of the oxidative stress arising from exhaustion and other body reactions like phospholipid peroxidation (a leading factor in premature aging).

Resurrection bush also has potential as an essential oil for use in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and perfume industry. Recent studies have shown that the extract from the aerial parts of the plant can be used as a skin conditioning agent. The ground leaves have also been tested for use as a spice in Japan.

Informal trade in Zimbabwe is mostly through herbalists and across borders. The formal trade is to herbal tea processors, but

PHOTOS SOURCE: BIO INNOVATION ZIMBABWE

Brimming with anti-oxidants and essential minerals, this tea boosts the immune system and builds stamina, calms inflammation and promotes anti-ageing effects.

is currently very small. With more awareness of the benefits of the tea, volumes could increase significantly.

Export opportunities exist also, mostly for extract production for cosmetics.

There is a small niche market also in ornamentals: when water is added, a dry sprig turns green in a matter of hours.

For resurrection tea, check out the shelves at your local supermarket!

For more details on resurrection bush and the other underutilised species BIZ works on, check www.bioinnovation.org and www.facebook. com/naturallyzimbabwean, and visit

us at our offices (48 Harvey Brown, Milton Park, Harare) or Maasdorp and Amanzi markets.

Tracy Mapfumo is a researcher/trainer at Bio-Innovation Zimbabwe (BIZ). She graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Agriculture-Plant Science at the University of KwaZulu Natal in 2015. She then joined BIZ in 2016 with the goal of learning more on how to tackle the topical issue of food insecurity in Zimbabwe. At BIZ, she carries out small research projects for both current and potential BIZ species. In addition, she trains rural communities on diet diversity and nutritional benefits of traditional foods. She is also involved in consumer awareness. Tracy currently writes an article on any of the BIZ

species every month for a local magazine. If she is not at work, you will probably find her in her kitchen trying out recipes with indigenous ingredients or in the garden where she grows all kinds of indigenous plants.

Bio Innovation Zimbabwe (BIZ) develops and promotes underutilised, mostly indigenous and often wildharvested, plant species to strengthen food security and create wealth among Zimbabwe’s small-scale rural producers. To increase local consumption of Zimbabwe’s natural foods, the Zimbabwe Traditional and Organic Food Forum (www.naturallyzimbabwean.com), of which BIZ is a founding member, organises an annual food and seed festival.

EVENTS T: + 263 772 158313 E: info@bio-innovation.org; E: hararefoodfestival@gmail.com www.bio-innovation.org; www.naturallyzimbabwean.com

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12 Q1 I S S U E 0 9 / 1 8

C L I M AT E C H A N G E

Climate change in urban areas Joy Mlambo,

UNV – UNDP

Extreme rainfall flooded Harare, drought dried up water reservoirs in Bulawayo and Gweru experienced severe hail. Zimbabwean cities and towns are increasingly struggling with climate change effects. So far, climate change adaptation interventions have mostly been carried out in rural Zimbabwe. There are growing calls for intervention in the urban areas which are also affected in one way or another.

E

Slides 1- 10: Observed extreme weather events in cities

mily Matingo, a climate change scientist in the Ministry of Env ironment , Water and Climate, argues that there is need to understand better how climate change affects the urban areas and maintains that, ‘’Climate Change impacts are increasingly being felt in urban areas. If we as a nation are able to attain the goal of climate resilience, there is a need for interventions to address climate change effects both in rural and urban set ups.”

How are urban areas being affected by climate change?

As a first step to address these issues, the Climate Change Management Department, under the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate have initiated consultative workshops and engagement with Urban Local Authorities through the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. Consultative workshops to identify climate change impacts in urban areas were carried out on the 23rd of November 2017 and on the 1st of February 2018 in Harare and Bulawayo respectively, with a number of urban authorities in attendance.

At the workshop, Linia Mashawi from the Meteorological Services Department shed light on some of these impacts. “Climate change is leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events not only in rural areas but in urban areas. As a result, this has given rise to the country experiencing more frequent and intense storms and hail storms which have had subsequent impacts such as damaging infrastructure, cars and crops’’. In agreement, Emily Matingo added that ccities are already susceptible to the impacts of climate change, with potentially serious consequences for human health, livelihoods, and assets, especially for the urban poor.

01

02

Slide 1-2: Flooding a threat to food security

03

Zvishavane 2014

04

05

Harare 2014

06

Slide 3 - 4: Flash flooding common impact in most cities

Marondera 2017

Slide 5-6: Evidence of strong winds

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C L I M AT E C H A N G E

How should climate change adaptation in urban areas be tackled?

Despite these climate risks and the impacts that are already felt, many urban areas have not yet taken action to address climate change. Matingo emphasized the need for climate change adaptation to be addressed using a holistic approach and treating it as a cross-cutting issue that affects development. This means that climate change adaptation should form the centre-piece of any development plan, strategy, policy, budget or activity, taking into consideration how the achievement of the set development goals may be affected by climate change.

She also explained the importance of planning ahead and taking

proactive action, rather than waiting for a problem to arise. One of the key issues of adaptation action that she highlighted was that the adaptation strategies should be sustainable and not pose any other damage in the medium to long term. In addition, she also stressed the need to both strengthen urban planning and as well as ensuring ecosystem health in order to absorb climatic shocks and hazards.

The combination of ecosystem management and urban planning helps in reducing the vulnerability of urban communities as the effects of climate change are often enhanced by other social, economic and environmental challenges.

From the consultative processes with urban authorities, it was agreed that for

climate change resilience in urban areas was to succeed, the following measures may help cities cope with different climate change impacts: • Conducting urban climate risk profiling.

• Strengthened legislation to support climate change planning and action.

• Water harnessing and provision, including reducing water loss, in anticipation of reduced rainfall and drought.

• Securing sanitation and drainage in anticipation of extreme rainfall.

• Climate resilient infrastructure/ housing in anticipation of extreme weather events.

07

• Public health and emergency management taking into account climate change hazards.

• Urban agriculture plan that takes into account sustainability and climate change hazards.

• Urban renewal strategy that takes into cognisance climate change.

This includes environmental protection e.g. wetland management.

• Strengthening risk governance and integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change into development planning.

• Revising building codes - Putting in place risk informed building codes for climate proof/disaster resilient infrastructure and e.g. newly built homes should have provisions and should be mandatory to have renewable energy and water harvesting facilities etc. Climate proofing all infrastructure against extreme weather events (houses, road networks, power lines and stations) • Land use planning and zoning and rebuilding of insurable houses. Land use planning and zoning should discourage the poor siting of houses i.e. houses on wetlands and in waterways.

Slide 7: Evidence of hail storms as a result of much heating thus damaging crops contributing to food insecurity

• Early warning systems and tailor made impact based forecasts and meteorological products.

08

At the end of the consultations, the participants concluded that there is need to step up the efforts to manage risks and build long-term resilience for cities, municipalities, towns and local boards. Delegates also emphasized the need for significant investments into urban climate change adaptation and called on development partners to work with in resource mobilisation for climate change resilience building projects in urban areas.

Slide 8: Severe hail in Gweru which occurred on the 26th of May 2016

Slide 9: On the 8th October 2017 storms at Nyadire in Mashonaland province

Slide 10: Violent Storms Pumula, Bulawayo 15 November 2017

PHOTOS: METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

09

The stocktaking exercise of the National Adaptation Plan was initiated under the Scaling up Adaptation through Strengthening I n t e g ra t e d P l a nn i n g Systems Project implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate through the Environmental Management Agency with support from UNDP.

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P OL I C Y

The key to Zimbabwe’s socio economic development is a sustainable communications strategy

By Archie Mathibela

A

turnkey communication strategy needs to be in place to not only build goodwill and understanding between citizens and the presidium, but to also ensure that socio economic reforms are both successful and far-reaching.

Granted, it’s an assortment of constantly moving parts. However, an effective strategy can help achieve the national vision, exploit emerging opportunities as they arise and pave the way for sustainable socio economic development. The Government will need a clear plan and the political will to implement it.

An effec tive com mu n ication strategy serves as a guide and gives Zimbabwe some legroom to set its own agenda rather than importing one made to order from Western think tanks. It will be a delicate dance entailing the engagement of a potpourri of citizens with as many disparate views, interests and expectations as the regional and

international community. Whatever the case, President Mnangagwa has to oversee the creation of relevant and sustainable policies that empower every Zimbabwean to give the best of themselves to their country at every waking moment. How Government communicates this message will determine their credibility on the back of watershed elections slated end of July.

In the meantime, the Mnangagwa Government has the goodwill of a sizeable section of the population eager to see Zimbabwe on the rebound.

It is this goodwill that Government can piggy back on to tackle the low hanging fruits of endemic corruption and widespread unemployment.

Public service must transform to meet citizens’ rising expectations, especially in the area of digital experiences.

Government driven Digital platforms make public services cheaper, deliver better social and policy outcomes, and increase engagement. This makes sense

on the back of tremendous growth in citizen driven social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp as tools to call policy makers to account.

The reason why and how Governments should communicate has changed – yet dated communication structures and skills endure since policymakers hardly understand the role of Communication. Zimbabwe should embrace technology that enables seamless access to their service portal to open up dialogue with its citizens and increase transparency. Sadly, Public Relations is still regarded as a tactical tool rather than a strategic function of policy delivery in Zimbabwe. This is why public service remains underskilled in areas such as social media, data analysis, audience segmentation and citizen engagement. The remedy?

- realign civil service to meet the needs of a demographic that expects service at the click of a finger!

There is a global arms race of

Governments selling the hope of a better life to citizens which Communicators have to contend with if they are to maintain the heartbeat of their respective Government’s policies. Such focus not only ensures that the public relations function takes a frontrow seat and also conveys a unified message to all stakeholders to stay on brand. A meeting of minds across all sectors of society from Government, civil society and the private sector is necessary to advance the country’s new economic development agenda The current Leadership will have to choose cause over ambition and take a long term view on its communications strategy which will need a lot of patience to see it through. Meanwhile, the President and his Government will be judged by present actions over any convoluted promises about the future no matter their face value.

If anything, the nickel and dime reformism of the past is no longer

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P OL I C Y

panacea to the economic progress nor socio-political cohesion. Instead, indications are that real progress on the ground will not be a walk in the park. This is why Government will do well, to maintain ‘steady hands’ with institutional memory balanced with a fresh crop of professionals to deal with the demands of the new dispensation. This will require extensive rationalization of the mandate of many institutions and their secretariat within Government to improve operational efficiencies and enable swift decision making.

Another forward thinking aspect of the Government’s policy should be encouraging the return of its best talent resident in the diaspora by guaranteeing existing positions for a certain period of time whilst tweaking the civil service’s terms and conditions of employment to align its development aspirations with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 - the continental development framework for socio-economic transformation.

In addition, Government should commit towards ensuring that the SADC target of 15% of the national budget goes to the health sector to upscale the access of citizens to basic health services and better remuneration for the health service profession. A healthy nation will not only yield high political and economic dividends but the confidence for citizens to participate in the development of the country.

On the international front, a push for wholesale adoption of the UN Global Compact which brings business together with UN agencies, labour, civil society and governments

will advance ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

In addition the UN SDGs should provide an inspiring guide for sustainable development in Zimbabwe through providing solutions for the community’s most pressing needs, ultimately creating impact across the globe.

Over and above this, the Government needs to take this strategy further to setup communications units in line Ministries and cascade the same mandate to Local Government level.

This will ensure that the Government’s programmes successes, failures and challenges are fully communicated to stakeholders to measure progress and coordinated sharing of information between the central Government and its units. At the confluence of all these high sounding undertakings should be a cohesive message that marries action on the ground with policy pronouncements on paper in a wholesome way to bring together stakeholders from Government, private sector and civil society.

The modern PR Professional working in the Zimbabwean public sector needs to tap into these policies with the aim of creating trusted and productive relationships that form the foundation of lasting change.

This is easily done if there is a unitary communications strateg y from Government which spells out what the Government wants citizens to know, think and do. The varied ethnic, religious, social and political persuasions of the Zimbabwean society will elicit a multipurpose approach from Government so as to

manage expectations. Setting realistic goals and channelling adequate resources where they are needed is critical lest disillusionment and apathy sets in especially with the advent of independent media and a constantly evolving socio economic situation.

To overcome the challenges faced

by Zimbabwe will take massive co m m i t m e nt a n d h a rd w o rk complemented by strong institutions and relevant human capital. However, with good advance planning and effective policies, the battle is half won.

Whilst looking in the rear view, it is important to keep focus on the future because that is where will spend the rest of our lives. The missing link here is the millennial generation to bridge the gap and take up the initiative of leading this transition into new opportunities. The civil service needs a complete overhaul and skills retooling to keep up with citizen’s aspirations.

Importantly, Zimbabweans need to put thoughts into action - analysis is not a tonic, nor is complaining a solution. Administration of a constitutional republic can never be left to one’s devices. It’s the sum total of the causative action of active citizens informed by an effective public relations strategy.

Archie Mathibela is a Public Relations and Marketing Communications Consultant with Junechild Corporate Communications, a converged Public Relations and Marketing agency geared for services to Government, Civil society and the private sector. His 10 year career has seen him working with brands in diverse sectors from Insurance and Financial services, Government Legislature, Telecoms, Sustainable Development and Arts and Culture sector. Archie holds B.A Hons and M.A in English Degrees from the University of Zimbabwe, a Diploma in Public Relations and a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management from the Institute of Marketing Management in South Africa. He regularly writes on thought leadership issues that explore how P.R communications can be leveraged by brands and Governments to influence perceptions.

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C L I M AT E C H A N G E

FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE Stay Below 1, 5 Degrees Of Warming

By NEVSON MPOFU

The global population today faces immense socio- economic and political challenges.

Most countries especially in Africa are seriously affected by extreme poverty where an increased number lack access to basic services. The majority is extremely affected by poverty because of climate change from global warming that has led to severe metrological and hydrological droughts caused by the atmosphere warming above 1.5 degrees Celsius.

T

hese cat a strophes have drastically impacted more on communities in Africa with some countries failing to cope with mitigation and adaptation due to lack of climate finance, social cohesion of political will and isolation from the International community. It is therefore a priority to for the InterGovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to foster policy development so as to forecast on climate change mitigation and adaptation through Bio-Diversity protection, research a n d d e ve l o p m e nt p ro g ra m s .

Secondly, the implementation of BECCS Technologies to reduce climate change is important.

Also, there is need to create other technologies which are conducive to a pollution free, disease free and an environmentally stable and sustainable community.

Un ive rsit y of Zi mbabwe Environment and Agriculture Expert Professor Sheunesu Mupepereki reckons that if countries stay below 1.5 degrees of warming there are greater chances of stability in rainfall resulting in good harvests. The input part comes with bumper output of harvest and the outcome is adequate food supply that is Food Security leading to an ideal of reduced hunger and poverty in communities, high education and health service delivery.

In his view, ‘’This is only achievable through unison application of the global agreements already in place like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreements which have a bit of relief to our changing world . Ofcourse climate has been changing but 90% of this is attributable to human forces, working towards destroying the Universe’’.

The Publicity Manager of the Environmental Management Agency which regulates the environment

space, Steady Kangata, shares the same sentiments as he points out, ‘’Richer States have to come together and weave social cohesion ideas meant to reduce effects of climate change so that we are at ease as far as this is concerned .

Staying below 1.5 degrees of warming is possible in the long run if the burning of fossil fuels is addressed. In fact natural solutions will work for us as we get to zero fossil fuel use’’. However, he hastens to caution that staying below 1.5 degrees of warming wont be easy as long as richer nations fail to agree among themselves to take it up with those most affected like African states and the small island countries which are only contributing a little at most not at all . Another Expert, an Agronomist Professor Mushonjowa pointed out that the issue of food security will not be a reality as long countries stay above 1.5 degrees Celsius as it leads to food insecurity and worsens poverty levels.

According to the World Health Organization, Climate Change has caused 140,000 deaths due to hunger and waterborne ailments .According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care Department of Epidemiology’s Doctor Portia Manangazira, the increase in water borne diseases has also been an issue of climate change in many countries mainly hit by devastating floods,‘’Water-borne diseases are set to increase as long climate lives. The greater increase is due to the issue of climate change which has arose with high incessant rains and sometimes low rainfall compromising on the strong sharp increase in communicable diseases related to vector borne and water borne ones like malaria and cholera respectively’ she said .

However, the question of climate justice still hangs in the balance as some countries like the USA continue polluting at the expense of the developing countries. The increase in vulnerable people in communities is adversely exacerbated by climate

change which in turn causes these people to live above 1.5 degrees of warming. In the Agriculture sector a 2 degrees increase in temperature reduces maize output by 5 to 22%, wheat 10 to 17% and sorghum from 15 to 17%. This leads to food vulnerability leading to high malnutrition and nutrition insecurity, poverty and lack of human development .

Because of these issues, women and children are failing to survive as they are more vulnerable to drought and the effects of natural disasters. The Director of Shamwari YeMwanasikana, Ekenia Chifamba bemoaned the lack of opportunities for women to speak up and notes that staying below 1.5 could help today’s the girl-child to become a better contributor in building a better economy without poverty and hunger.

However, it is sad to note that women voices in climate change issues were so low over the recent years because of inequality. A sentiment echoed by the Women Coalition of Zimbabwe Co-coordinator, Sally Dura who also argued for more representation of women and venturing into 100% Renewable Energy to reduce carbon emissions On the ground, real change rests with strategizing achievable mitigations and properly aligned adaptations in order to conquer challenges we face today.

The fact is that before the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century there were 280 parts per million of carbon emissions doubling to 400 parts per million. The warming of the planet by upwards of 3 to 4 degrees, leading to high sea-levels poses a great threat for mankind. Although we are slightly below these levels, several measures in addition to climate resilience, governance and political will need to be put in place.

NEVSON MPOFU is an award winning Media Practitioner currently lecturing on Community Development , HIV and AIDS. Email: nmnevsonmpofu755@gmail.com

The Green Snippets CLIMATE CHANGE

Lifting the Ban on Elephant Trophies Will Probably Help Save Elephants Zimbabwe unveils three climate change policies About 80% of rural Zimbabweans depend on rain-fed agriculture for a living, making them highly vulnerable to more extreme weather associated with climate change [Source: https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/world/africa/2018-06-26zimbabwe-unveils-three-climate-change-policies/]

Zimbabwe Farmers Counter Impact of Climate Change on Food With Science Drought-hit Zimbabwe farmers look to science to save crops Under the scorching Zimbabwean sun, cattle seek shade among stunted thorn bushes in the drought-prone district of Zaka where crops wither due to increasing temperatures and changing weather patterns. Severe lack of rain across southern Africa has hit the country hard, with government officials saying a quarter of the population faces starvation, and many villagers forced to survive on wild fruit.

[Source: https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/zimbabwe-farmers-counterimpact-of-climate-change-on-food-with-science/3591377.html]

Nyanga women keep sharp eye on climate change threats WITH the concept of farmer co-operative organisations waning in many rural communities as farmer associations gain traction, many women have branched out to establish village forums through which they keep track of climate change impact. These emerging collective voices are also seeking to raise the weaker and marginalised groups by addressing local development challenges around climate change. Regarded as offshoots of community-based organisations (CBOs), these have become a channel through which local women are raising the tempo in community natural resources conservation and management in the wake of destruction of forests and their biodiversity through fuel-wood cutting.

[Source: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/10/nyanga-women-keepsharp-eye-climate-change-threats/]

Climate change threatens maize output

Without measures to counter climate change, the food security of our people on the continent is compromised. One of the measures to combat climate change in agricultural production is with seed of climate resilient crop varieties that withstand drought and heat stress, offering protection against the emergence of new diseases and pests.

[Source: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2018/04/ climate-change-threatens-maize-output/]

FARMING

Meet Zimbabwe’s smart farmers

Thomas Kafas Shumba smiles as he inspects his only surviving portion of maize crop plantations, adjacent to his mud-walled house—in Wanasi village, Zimbabwe. Clad in a printed grey shirt and a pair of black trousers, the father of five moves around his tiny farm, showing a team from Zimbabwe Red Cross how conservation farming, a new technique, saved some of his crops, despite poor rains a month ago. Eighty farmers, including Shumba, were trained by the Zimbabwe Red Cross on keyhole farming—an agricultural system in which crops are planted in circular garden beds— with a compost pile in the centre.

[Source:https://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/2018/03/16/meet-zimbabwes-smartfarmers/]

DROUGHT

Amid drought, mystery disease kills Zimbabwe’s baobabs

CHIMANIMANI, Zimbabwe, July 4 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A black baobab tree stands forlornly on the side of a highway in Chimanimani district, in the east of Zimbabwe. The tree is one of many in this region afflicted by a mysterious disease, which turns the baobabs black before they lose their branches and die. The giant trees, which dwarf their more common acacia and mopani neighbours in this dry part of the country, have long been revered as a way to survive drought.

[Source: http://news.trust.org/item/20160704103323-lj6dg/]