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QUARTER 03 ISSUE 07 / 17 ENERGY
DROUGHT
CLIMATE CHANGE
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Connecting the Dots: Wildlife, The Youth & Climate Change
RECYCLING
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Recycling begins when you start buying recycled products�
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Adapted seeds: The missing link in the fight against drought
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Energy Investiments And Finance Vital For The Developing World Energy Story
F E AT U R E
Creating opportunities from waste through green partnerships Page 4
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C l i m at e C H A N G E
NO T
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QUARTER 03 ISSUE 07 / 17
DROUGHT
CLIMATE CHANGE
Connecting the Dots:
Wildlife, The Youth & 02 Climate Change
RECYCLING
Recycling begins when
you start buying recycled 05 products�
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Adapted seeds: The missing link in the fight against drought
ENERGY
Energy Investiments And Finance Vital For
The Developing World 08 Energy Story
Connecting the Dots: Wildlife, The Youth & Climate Change By Prisca Daka, Speak out for Animals
F E AT U R E
Creating opportunities from waste through green partnerships Page 4
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. 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 CONTRIBUTE contribute@sustainzim.org ADVERTISING A rate sheet is available on request ZIM +263 77 291 8810 / +263 77 228 3186 RSA +27 72 600 5283 / +27 760999770 Email: advertise@sustainzim.org Limited Space Available! 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.
Zimbabwe is home to a diverse array of wildlife that is so important to our culture. It is sad to note that it faces a bleak future if we do not address the current global warming crisis.
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ur climate is changing; both naturally and due to human activities and wildlife, animals specially are rapidly losing the competition for space due to the ever growing human need and greed. One of the big questions that we have to answer is, how can we best protect wild animals in the face of climate change when human activities are increasingly running counter to the interests of wildlife? In an attempt to answer the question, involving the voice of the youth is very crucial and powerful. This is because the youth have the ability and agility to come up with innovative solutions unlike the older generation. Climate change has definitely impacted the ecosystem, our wild animals particularly in this case, as has been witnessed in the increased number of droughts and floods, which also ultimately affect them. Therefore by involving the youth in combating climate change the survival of wild animals is also ensured. In addition climate change is altering key habitat elements that are vital to the survival of wild animals and this is putting natural resources in jeopardy. Wild animals depend on healthy habitats, for example they need the right temperatures, water and food sources as well as places to raise their young. Climate change has definitely had an adverse impact on habitats, for example severe drought stress and kills plants on which some wild animals depend for food and in other case deprive them of water sources. Without adequate water and food sources it becomes difficult for wild animals to survive. Climate change is without doubt the greatest threat facing our planet today. As has been mentioned there is already undeniable evidence that wild animals are being affected by climate change and global warming in both their distribution
and behavior. A warming planet alters weather patterns, water supplies, seasonal growth for plants and a sustainable way of life for us and the wild animals as well. Therefore unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, climate change could cause some wild animals to become extinct. Though the effects of climate change can be felt, it is not too late to take action. There is still time for the youth to be part of the solution. There has been no better time to involve the youth in these issues than now and this should have happened as soon as yesterday. The youth of today are the first generation to feel the impacts of climate change, they make up the majority of the population and consequently they are the ones who will have to live with the impacts of climate change and loss of wildlife. Unless the youth become active citizens who are interested in solving these problems, we will be talking about stories about how we once had a rich variety of wildlife in the future. Hence an active youth engagement in adaptation and mitigation initiatives to combat climate change is without doubt essential, not only do the solutions benefit humans but wild animals and the ecosystem
as a whole also benefit from it too. It also falls upon people in leadership positions to empower the youth and give them the space to participate even in matters of policy making. It is therefore important for the youth to be active citizens involved in tackling climate change issues and be agents of change raising their voices to speak up for animals. Speak out for Animals (SOFA) has made a stride by establishing a platform for university students, to help fight for the protection and conservation of animals. Through the SOFA Student Chapter (SSC), university students can gain an insight into the broad field of animal protection and also help raise the bar high for animals. SOFA believes that involving the youth in the protection and conservation of domestic and wild animals is very important, they will be the future leaders and decision makers and it is essential for them to value the importance of animals. Prisca Daka Is a legal officer at Speak out for Animals. She has a keen interest in environmental issues, sustainable development and to see the youth fully engaged in these issues. www.twitter.com/prisca_daka | www.speakoutforanimals. org
KB Mpofu FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
+263 9 883 696 +263 71 660 5615 Kb@kbmpofu.com www.kbmpofu.com
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Call for Green Partnerships to reduce our Carbon Footprint By Raymond Muwaniri, POVOAfrika Trust
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In this edition, we have very interesting articles that go into detail on what the effects of climate change are on a local level and what can be done to counter them. In the first article Ms Prisca Daka from Speak Out For Animals (SOFA) talks about connecting the dots between wildlife, youths and climate change. She mentions that, youths in Zimbabwe are the first generation to feel the effects of climate change therefore they should be involved in the decision-making processes that affect their future.
hrough working with SOFA, Prisca emphasises how human interests and activities are increasingly counter to the interests of wildlife. There is increasing habitat loss due to human activities and habitat change due to climate change. This leaves the animals to survive in isolated pockets that may never bred with each other, changing their behaviour and threatening to kill the species. In drought situations, animals can no longer migrate as they used to due to loss of their migratory routes to human encroachment. Animals are now being threatened with extinction due to increased droughts brought about by climate change. If the youths want to see animals in their future they need to get involved in combating climate change to save wildlife. It is up to those in government and leadership positions to empower youths to participate in policy making. POVO Afrika did a survey in 2015 to find out what youths in tertiary institutions knew about climate change. Results can be found here; http:// www.sustainzim.org/survey-tertiarystudents-know-climate-change/. The feature article is by Tinashe Manyonga from Unique Innovations, he talks about creating opportunities from waste management through green partnerships. Tinashe calls for green partnerships to reduce the carbon footprints of organisations and individuals through green initiatives. Tinashe showcases unique innovations that focus on incorporating waste material into high value and useful products, enabling premium value for the respective waste material. In this instance, he showcases a ‘ Temp bag’ for thermal retention which can be custom made to suit different individuals or organisations. Tinashe encourages all partnership between different entities; universities & colleges, multinationals companies, individual and communities etc. To add to this, the 3-bin system needs to be introduced at household level in Zimbabwe. This system has been very successfully implemented in European countries. Waste is separated from source making it easier to handle, 1 bin for recyclables, the other compost and the last for general waste. This is something
the government should look to implement if Zimbabwe is going to utilise its waste properly. We must always remember the 3R’s; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
charging their phones, but there is still a
Adaptive seeds are the future for Zimbabwe’s drought stricken areas. Tonderai Mukeredzi talks about adaptive seed being the missing link to fighting against drought. He discusses a seed fair in Mafeha Primary School, Matabeleland South that showcases and allows for; the sharing of seed, the exchange of knowledge and experience on the old and new climate adapted crops. As climate change is on the rise, so are the drought stricken regions in Zimbabwe. Tonderai’s solution is the stimulation in the production of small grains which are more drought resistant as compared to the staple maize, which requires more fertilisers and irrigation. There are other benefits to seed fairs, they allow for the stocking and preservation of seeds from indigenous species. These can ultimately be stored in seed banks that preserve genetic diversity for future use. Seed fair also allow for competition to occur among local farmers resulting in the best quality seeds being produced. The photograph clearly shows high quality seed present at the seed fair in Mafeha Primary school.
affecting their livelihood, which is why more
Nevson Mpofu who is a regular contributor to SustainZim and in this edition, he discusses energy investments and finance vital for the developing world energy story. According to Nevson, to monitor the reduction of absolute poverty in the world there needs a strong focus on energy financing to develop various energy projects, reduce poverty and achieve our SDG goals. 60% of Zimbabweans live in rural areas and their main source of energy is biofuels, resulting in mass deforestation which is contributing to climate change. By speeding up the rural electrification process and investing in energy solutions in rural areas, we reduce the biofuel consumption therefore
huge technological gap compared with their city counterparts. This gap affects the level of opportunities youths in rural areas have, energy investments and finance are needed in rural areas.
How to contribute PRINT RUN
Submission Guidelines
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
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1. How can mining become more environmentally sustainable (Environmental Management Agency)
2. Chipendeke MicroHydropower Scheme Raymond Muwaniri ( POVOAfrika Trust)
3.Using The Climate Smart Village Approach To Build Climate Resilience In Chiredzi Joy Mlambo (UNV – UNDP/EM)
4.Sustainable Development Goals – Zimbabwe Sustain Staff
5.Sustainable Energy for Rural Communities Martha Munyoro Katsi Practical Action
6.Sweden collaborates with Zimbabwe to promote Green Economy Wallace Mawire
7.Winners of the 2015/16 Green Innovations Hub Sustain Staff
8.Climate change and Zimbabwe, impacts and action Anna Brazier
9.About Renewable Energy Association of Zimbabwe (REAZ) Isaiah Nyakusendwa (REAZ)
10.Muunganirwa Fish Project Raymond Muwaniri ( POVOAfrika Trust)
After article has been published on the website the author may publish on their own platforms.
saving a lot of trees in the process. The more trees there are, the more carbon dioxide causing climate change can be adsorbed from the atmosphere. The younger generation in rural areas are currently turning to solar for lighting purposes, listening to radio and
If you have any articles, events, news snippets, please send them to the contribute@sustainzim.org
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Read More articles at www.sustainzim.org
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Creating opportunities from waste through green partnerships By Tinashe Manyonga, Unique Innovations
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Recycling start-up calls for green partnerships as a key strategy on the war on waste
w a r d w i n n i n g , Un i q u e Innovations (Private) Limited established in 2013 and led by an award winning innovator Tinashe Manyonga, has declared a war on waste. We have figured out strategies of successfully fighting this war and this brings us to a critical issue of a “Call for Green Partnerships”.
They is need to create what we have come to call Green Partnerships with key organizations in the system. These refer to partnerships created to reduce the the carbon foot print of particular organizations and individuals through initiatives that include: buying and promoting use of recycled products, practicing proper waste disposal and energy conservation at individual and organizational level. For a long ti me d iffe re nt organizations have tried to curb waste pollution challenges through many initiatives, with one of the most important being recycling. The major hold back has been that most waste materials are recycled back into their original form or turned into other products, which don’t offer meaningful value. There by leading to a situation where they is they is lack of financial incentive to the key players of the waste management processes which include waste collectors and those that produce the waste like consumers. Unique Innovations is focusing on incorporating waste materials into high value and useful products which will in turn enable us to pay premium values for the respective waste materials and increase our capacity to consume more waste. We a r e h e r e b y i nv i t i n g a l l organizations whom produce waste materials that we are able to recycle to join the war on waste thoughn green partnerships. Qoute “You see waste and see a nuisance, I see waste and I see opportunities” – Tinashe Manyonga 2014 Chief Innovator – Unique Innovations TEMP BAG Outdoor Life Products are non electric thermal retention bags that are designed to utilize waste materials in their make and design. They are suitable for use for various outdoor life uses, as we have the TEMP BAG COWACO which allows one to finish of cooking any food that you
would cook through boiling without using any extra energy through the concept of insulated cooking, thereby reducing the amount of energy required in a cooking cycle. The TEMP-BAG Supercoolers allow you to keep your beverages cold for over 48 hours frozen bottles of water can stay cold for upto five days. TEMP-BAG Lunch kits allow you to keep your food warm for upto five hours as one goes to college or school. The Ottoman TEMP-BAG is a multifunctional stool and cooler that allows you the pleasure of enjoying your beverages whilst sitting on it. All TEMP BAG products are customizable and can be manufactured to suit an
organizations or individuals intended use, they as well make excellent promotional and corporate giveaways customized with a brand or corporate logo.
Local partnerships It’s high time that strategic partnerships are identified and established in order to maximize on the real value of the waste management and recycling industry. The waste industry (waste producers, waste management companies, recycling & up cycling companies) must ensure resources go round in the system. To achieve this, critical players in the system must make sure that waste products are recycled/reused in a sustainable manner. This can only be done through mutually beneficial partnerships like the following: Kutsaga Seeds or Tobacco Research Board- a leading tobacco seedling producer partnered Unique Innovations and now recycles all the waste (kaylites) produced by the tobacco
seedling giant and also from its consumers around the country. through a barter deal with finished TEMP BAG products. Kutsaga Seeds also purchases TEMP-BAG products as a way of enhancing the start up. Delta Beverages has been one of the most active companies in the waste management and recycling space, despite this they have only been able to consume a fraction of their waste materials. We intend to partner Delta initiatives and add a new dimension to their recycling programmes, we have already started work by supplying finished recycled products for their promotional activities. This support from the beverage giant has enabled us to scale up and initiate recycling initiatives that target to consume more beverage waste which include PET bottles and the plastic packaging materials and bottle tops. Waste collection allows an opportunity for income generating opportunities for communities and at the same time diverting waste from the landfills. So basically it’s a cycle, Delta produces waste we collect the waste and turn it into high value products which are different types of TEMP BAG outdoor living products. These products are used in various promotional activities by respective beverage brands, we have already started working with the Zambezi brand who have already started using three of our product lines in their promotions. Colleges & Universities play pivotal role by supplying a fresh crop of minds which can spear head green innovations. Unique Innovations has key interest in nurturing young talent. To achieve this, we offer consultancy services to college student groups. A notable partnership has been built with Team Renovators, a recycling team comprised of Harare Institute of Technology and Catholic University. The team was one of the winners in the Delta Ethics, Make A Difference Challenge. Where they where tasked to start a recycling project and form a business case out of it. Unique Innovations served as a green technology partner. More initiatives like these will see a lot of interest beign raised amongst students which will undoubtedly bring meaningful change in the long run. Events We have interest in partnering outdoor events and turning them into ecofriendly functions. We have already started working with Unplugged Zimbabwe a leading blankets and wine event held monthly
in the capital and we have a lot of initiatives lined up. We want an event to be exciting but at the same time be an educational curve for the fans. We have started by designing fashionable recycling banks which people will use to dispose off their waste. Other initiatives lined up include ensuring that all the event fans practice proper waste disposal by using a Car Litter Bin. People will also get literature on how they can be more responsible citizens through lowering their carbon footprints, from the TEMP-BAG stand. Outdoor events serve us with a good marketing opportunity for TEMP-BAG Outdoor Life Products. We intend to partner all high profile events. Schools have a critical role to play as they have a mandate to ensure that kids grow up understanding about waste management and recycling initiatives. Unique Innovations has an initiative called “ The Collection for Success Programme” (CSP) where students are encouraged to bring respective types of waste from their households. In return, the school gets to barter trade the collected waste with products like Team TEMP-BAG Super-coolers, Litter bins and Car Bins. The class and student with the highest quantity of waste collected get a prize sponsored by TEMP-BAG. Under this initiative, we are also conducting a training programme where students are trained on various issues of climate change and waste management. The school is however charged a fee for the lessons conducted. Individuals & Communities are able to play a pivotal role in the waste management system by practicing the following:, Reducing the amount of waste produced from households, by using shopping bags Buying recycled products, using a recycled product reduces your carbon foot print Separating waste at source and supplying to respective recycling companies (see table for materials recycled by UI) Avoiding littering by having a bin in vehicles Setting up community recycling
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Recycling begins when you start buying recycled products”
Table 1: Key green partnerships
centres which will create income generating opportunities for members of the community
Industry
Waste materials
Companies/Organisations
Products which can consume waste
Beverage companies
PET, Plastics , Bottle tops, milk boxes
Delta, Schweppes, Dairibord, Oasis,
Ottoman Stools, Supercoolers, Ottoman TEMP BAGS
Cement manufactuting
Cement sacks
Lafarge, PPC
Supercoolers, Ottoman TEMP BAGS, waste collecting bags
Mealie meal packaging
Mealie Meal Sacks, Plastics
National Foods,
Supercoolers, Ottoman TEMP BAGS, waste collecting bags
Polystyrene users and manufacturers
Polystyrene float trays, Furniture shops
Kutsaga Seeds
TEMP BAG COWACO, Supercoolers, Ottoman stools, Bean bags
Bread manufacturing
Plastics
Bakers inn, Proton, Lobels
Lunch bags, Supercoolers, Ottoman TEMP BAGS
Innovation to combat waste With major waste producers and green technology companies working together, there is an opportunity to look at the supply chain, identify where it is going wrong and use alliances as mentioned above to see how companies can work together to achieve a bigger goal. Unique Innovations intends to play a leading role in employing innovation to combat waste, by innovatively turning waste produced by different organizations into usefull and high value products. We are hoping to partner several companies (see table) and turn challenges into opportunities. We are also inviting all start ups with innovative ideas to come and join the war on waste. The war on waste is about creating sustainable processes just as much as products out of waste and relationships have to be built to achieve this. Businesses and organizations must be prepared to collaborate with other players to initiate new ideas and develop innovation that makes the green economy a reality. This benefits the wider ecosystem, not just the companies and organizations involved, because there will be a new way of thinking about the supply chain to recycle waste materials.
Innovative Recycling companies are the crucial link in the waste management industry and they must not be underestimated. With the latest technological innovations, recycling can become a critical part of a more modernized environmental infrastructure and economy. Innovation in recycling and working with partners when it’s necessary to be able to achieve that, is key in winning the war on waste.
Awards Smart Energy Innovations Challenge 2016 Best Creative Award Global Enteprenuership Week 2013 Tinashe Manyonga is the Founder and Chief Innovator of Unique Innovations (Private) Limited based Harare. ContacT: tempbagmovementgmail.com, +263773019466,Like us on facebook : TEMP-BAG
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Adapted seeds: The missing link in the fight against drought By Tonderayi Mukeredzi
Over seventy-five women small holder farmers huddle excitedly inside a classroom at Mafeha Primary School during a recent seed fair in Bulilima district in the patched Matebeland South province while they await results of a small grain competition.
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o calm the nerves, the farmers break into song and dance. The day is such a happier affair for them. Besides walking away with prizes – for those that won, the farmers acquired new variety lines of small grains. That’s the whole purpose of the seed fair – to give the farmers an opportunity to showcase, share seeds, and exchange knowledge and experiences on the old and new climate adapted crops. Seed fairs have become a common and key instrument used by change agents to stimulate the production of small grains as a broader strategy to upend hunger and offset the deleterious effects of climate change in drought stricken regions. In recent years, government, and development agencies have aggressively been urging the farmers to grow small grains as alternative crops to maize, the staple crop. Over the years, the potential of small grains in eliminating famine has been underestimated, with research focused mostly on maize. This is despite the fact that small grains are renowned for their drought tolerance, early maturity, and nutritional qualities. They are also cheaper to grow than maize which requires more fertiliser and irrigation. But after years of hard selling the small grains, champions of the hunger busting crops claim that access to improved good quality seed coupled with good crop management is proving that many small holder farmers can improve yields and reduce crop failure. Marco Mare, a plant breeder with the state run Crop Breeding Institute says since 2008, more farmers in drought prone areas have turned to small grains because of the availability of adapted seeds though these are still few. “Farmers have realised the importance of growing crops that are adaptable to their conditions. The only challenge farmers are facing is limited access to the improved varieties of these crops. “As a research institution, we’ve only managed to release four commercial varieties of pearl millet, five commercial varieties of sorghum, three varieties of bambara groundnuts and four commercial varieties of cowpeas. So, there is low diversity, considering that we must cover the whole of region 3, 4 and 5 where climate change effects are high,” Mare told journalists in Bulilima recently.
Melody Makumbe, a projects manager with international development agency Practical Action Southern Africa, which is working with government on a research project to promote the conservation, utilisation, and management of climate adapted seeds, said about 620 farmers in Matebeleland South have accessed over ten advanced variety lines of drought tolerant and early maturity small grains. An estimated 20 000 additional farmers in surrounding areas are targeted to benefit from the improved varieties through spill over benefits. “Many of the farmers had abandoned the production of small grains due to issues around labour and palatability. They have since realised that it’s more about food security and less about the other issues. So, we’ve seen quite a good response from the farmers with many of them doubling their yields from 1-2 tonnes per hectare,” Makumbe explained. According to the 2017 Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee’s Rural Livelihood Assessment Report, small grains production increased by 157% during the 2016/17 farming season. Matebeleland South, Matebeleland North and Masvingo provinces recorded the highest number of households that grew small grains.
The ZIMVAC Report however notes that the proportion of households growing small grains remains low despite all the efforts and rhetoric to promote the crops. Bulilima farmer, Violet Chuma, 55, attests to the benefits accrued from growing the adapted grains. “The rains in Bulilima fall in November and by January it’s dry. The soils are poor and don’t retain water. But since I started the growing the improved varieties, I can harvest irrespective of good or bad rains,” said Chuma, who has doubled her small grains production. Another farmer Tendai Mabhena (48) has increased the production of small grains to more than an acre, enabling her to reap enough for consumption and sale. Among the adapted varieties is CBC 4, a cowpea breed that performed well during the 2015/16 season and yielded better where other commercial small grains varieties failed. Tsholotsho bearded, a traditional pearl millet variety with bristles, which prevents bird eating, has also been developed in response to bird damage complaints by farmers. Bird damage is a huge production constraint among small grain farmers. But while many small holder farmers have embraced the small grains and are eager to grow them, lack of improved seed, poor prices
and markets threaten to curtail production of the crops. The farmers, many of whom have lost their traditional seed to past droughts still depend largely on retained seed. There is very little commercial small grain seed on the market. Most of the improved varieties are still advanced lines and therefore unavailable on the market. To buck this trend , farmers and agronomists want government to introduce a comprehensive small grain policy that addresses value chain linkages, and the pricing system for small grains as they are laborious to produce but offer little pay. “We need a policy framework that supports the commercialisation and processing of small grains because that’s where these crops are falling short. In terms of competition and value maize has many utilisation options. “If we have mechanised equipment to process the grains and other value addition equipment to make flour, biscuits and so forth, these crops can be well adopted,” said Mare.
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Pa Rt N e R S We would like to recognise and thank all organisations, government agencies and individuals who have supported SustainZim’s inaugrual year of publishing. We would love to hear your suggestions on how we can improve and add value to the paper in 2017. Contact us on contribute@sustainzim.org.
Contributing Partners
The Green Snippets
EVENTS I heard you have new developments on the farm? Yes, I have started ‘fish farming’ and ‘water harvesting’. This is a ‘contour pond’ 200m2 and already has fingerlings inside. You can also find seepage ponds.
How do you feed the fish and how long till you harvest them? I put manure in the bottom of the pond to encourage algae to grow which the fish can eat, I also supplement with fish pellets. I can harvest after 4 months when the fish mature. Yes, it’s not expensive at all. The fish bring much needed protein to my family’s diet and I can sell some for an income. Let me show you my other project.
Can I afford this and what are the benefits?
These are water harvesting tanks I have filled with rain water.
Why are you collecting rain water? Well, we had a lot of rain this year so why let it go to waste and runoff. I can store this water and use it in the dry season for my fish pond and irrigation, among other uses. Who taught you all this?
Empowered lives. Resilient nations.
I googled ‘green projects’ and the other information I got from the new Agricultural Extension officer. He is holding a training tomorrow, you can join me?
Training workshop held by the Agric in the community hall ultural Extension officer
UNDP Zimbabwe
Are there any other green projects we can get into?
Oh yes,
there are plenty of green projects that benefit the environment and can bring a source of income.
Tel: 04 338836-44 Email: registry.zw@undp.org Web Address: www.zw.undp.org
Give us examples! Fish ponds, zero grazing, conservation farming, water harvesting, afforestation, eco-tourism, producing wood pellets and briquettes from sawdust. But we need rural electrification! There are other ways to get electricity; solar, wind, hydro and biogas. All these are renewable and do not harm the environment. We need more information and trainings!
Water harvesting collects rain water and prevents runoff, this water can therefore be used in the dry season for different purposes. In deforested areas, runoff is causing soil erosion and deep gullies which are ruining the landscape and becoming hazardous.
*Fingerlings – baby fish / Contour pond – dug on dry land / Seepage pond - built where water naturally occurs
Cartoon Illustrations
685/686 Lorraine/Faber Drive Bluffhill, Harare P.O Box 385, Causeway Harare Email: eep@ema.co.zw Fax: (04) 793123 www.ema.co.zw Phone:+263 4 305550 | TOLL FREE:08080028 Mobile: 0779565707 (Whatsapp)
CONTRIBUTE
It’s my job to help you, so use me wisely. There are also organisations you can contact that are dedicated to saving our environment while improving livelihoods. Fish farming helps preserve the wild stocks which are under pressure from overfishing and polluted waters. For more information on how to start fish farming please contact Aquaculture.
Environmental Management Agency
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Do you have an event connected to sustainability in Zimbabwe and Africa? Send us details in this format:> Event name > City > Organiser > Country > Start date > Description > End date > Your name > Venue > Contacts
A special thanks to Tafadzwa Tarumbwa for tirelessly creating our stunning cartoons which raise awareness for various issues.
Do you want to publish your articles to a broad audience? Send us details in this format:> Article Title > Organisation > Author Name > Organisation > Author Bio description > 750 words > Contact Details > Hi res Images
Send your contributions to contribute@sustainzim.org
For animations, cartoons or book illustrations on +263 77 299 8187 or tafadzwa2d@gmail.com.
Mushrooms and Sustainable Farming
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As electricity load shedding continues, and poverty levels continue to rise some opt to use firewood instead of electricity, others simply have no electricity. These are some of the factors that have seen the demand for firewood shooting up in urban areas. When we started doing mushrooms we used firewood to fire our boilers for sterilisation which caused damage to the environment. I learnt how to use the sawdust stove from Epworth residents. This has led us to stop using firewood and use sawdust from factories and sawmills. This decision tackled two challenges: Reduce impact on deforestation and management of industrial waste.
Put bricks where you will place your stove so that oxygen can enter the hole from beneath, as you light stove it will draw oxygen from beneath.
Gather sawdust from a sawmill or factory and compact sawdust in a container with a hole in the center (put a pipe in the centre remove after compaction) put ash or soil on top surface so that top part doesn’t burn, only the hole will.
STEP 4
The United Nations Team in Zimbabwe, in support of national development priorities and in partnership with development partners, reiterates its commitments articulated under the 2016-2020 Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF). The United Nations, through the ZUNDAF, continues its support in poverty reduction, advancing good governance and gender equality, and enhancing service delivery in education, health, water and sanitation, protection, and food and nutrition security. [Source: https://reliefweb.int/report/zimbabwe/ working-together-zimbabwe-s-sustainable-development]
ENERGY
Power for All campaign for renewable energy surpasses 100 partners “The Power for All Campaign has been a timely intervention for Zimbabwe; by helping us as a nation to refocus our strategies from large-scale nationalized energy systems that are not only highly expensive to construct but also take years to complete. Through Power for All, decision makers have now seen the vast potential of DRE in rapidly increasing energy access which ultimately helps lift people out of poverty.” [Source: https://guardian.ng/property/power-for-allcampaign-for-renewable-energy-surpasses-100-partners/]
AQUACULTURE
Zimbabwe embarks on ambitious tilapia programme Zimbabwe has launched a government-led fisheries and aquaculture programme on the newly-made Tokwe-Mukosi reservoir - the first major investment the country has made in this promising industry, writes Ian Nkala for The Fish Site. Called the National Command Fisheries Programme, the strategy was unveiled on May 27th at the country’s largest and newest water body, Tokwe-Mukosi Dam in southern Masvingo Province. The 1.8 billion cubic litre capacity reservoir, opened by President Robert Mugabe a week earlier, was stocked with 200,000 tilapia bream fingerlings – the first of 1.5 million expected to be stocked by the end of this year. [Source: https://thefishsite.com/articles/ zimbabwe-embarks-on-ambitious-tilapia-programme]
STEP 3
STEP 2
STEP 1
Working together for Zimbabwe’s sustainable development
Fold a newspaper light it and insert into the middle or insert and light from beneath add more newspapers till sawdust is burning on its own.
AGRICULTURE Seed banks help Zimbabwe’s farmers tackle climate change “Seed security is food security” is something of a mantra in developing world agronomy circles. In Zimbabwe, the adage is gradually being put into action by promoting the use of indigenous small grains threatened with extinction by the dominance of maize, both in fields and on dinner tables. [Source: https://www.irinnews.org/analysis/2017/11/07/ seed-banks-help-zimbabwe-s-farmers-tackle-climate-change]
CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate Change: Towards a National Adaptation Plan for Zimbabwe
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STEP 5
This one burns
HRS average 6 hours.
The first round of consultations in the urban sector on the implementation of National Adapatation Plan (NAP) to climate change took off to a smooth start on 23 November, 2017 with a call for partnerships to improve the resilience of cities to climate change impacts, and support clean and climate smart urban investments http://www.zw.undp.org/content/zimbabwe/en/home/ presscenter/articles/2017/11/27/climate-changetowards-a-national-adaptation-plan-for-zim.html
I use a big container for more heat and it burns longer (5-6 hours) . Use a small container for cooking.
Once burning, put an iron sheet on top leaving spaces for air to escape, this reduces heat as the heat can be too much for cooking. Once burning and getting enough air this stove is smokeless.
The Home of Mushrooms in Zimbabwe 0773 842 677
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Climate change now biggest threat after HIV: ZUJ Addressing a Konrad Adenauer Stiftung-funded climate change media workshop in Bulawayo on Wednesday, Dongozi said ZUJ, after wide consultations, decided to empower and build the capacity of its members on reporting the global concern. “It is important for journalists to understand and have the correct information, so that they are able to communicate the phenomenon of climate change. [Source: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/09/climate-change-nowbiggest-threat-hiv-zuj/]
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SUSTAINZIM - THINK LIVE STAY GREEN!
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Energy Investiments And Finance Vital For The Developing World Energy Story By Nevson Mpofu
Sub-Saharan Africa, South East and Pacific Asia which are Energy poverty impacted Regions need at least 49, 4 billion annually to finance their overall Energy projects and the current spending rotating in these Regions is 9 billion. World Bank has over the past years since 2007 financed 31 billion worth Energy projects in developing countries especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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n order to monitor the reduction of absolute poverty in the World, there is need to focus strongly on Energy financing in order to develop various energy projects, reduce poverty and win on Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Experts in the Energy sector in Zimbabwe have taken a strong move to work towards sustaining energy projects through sourcing finance and calling for Investments to boost the sector. The prevalent rate of climate change in the countries felt elsewhere in the World is fast reducing BIOFUEL ENERGY relied on by 60% of the rural population mainly in developing countries struggling to grapple with solar energy which is cheap, efficient, though insufficient, it is reliable with those who have used it .The strong fact is Solar is renewable, therefore it is of less cost once purchased. CLEAN ENERGY FOR ALL workshops organized by Business Council for Sustainable Development , Practical Action ,ZERA and ZERO held since issues of energy took Centre stage have since short time memorial brought change in the country which is only 40% solar energy dominated according to recent ZERA information on the ground . Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority Technical Director, Misheck Siyakhatsha said that adequate financial funding is needed to run Sustainable Energy projects in many countries of the World so as to promote a GREEN REVOLUTION which has special focus on clean energy which does not have effects on human lives as far as pollution is concerned . Air pollution has over the past years affected communities especially in mining areas like in Hwange where a number of people have had problems of respiratory and cardio-vascular diseases affecting lungs and the heart respectively .These challenges have as well been experienced in urban areas where after hydro-power blackout is experienced , dwellers pursue alternative energy sources which lead to destruction of the natural environment and turn to massive use of coal which emits unfriendly pollutants affecting people and the atmosphere . Experts have summed that, though the need for Green Energy for a Green Revolution, funding is not adequate to promote a GREEN REVOLUTION flourish. Among them the outstanding expert from ZERA was quoted by Sustain, ’ There is need for adequate funding buttressed by competent Investors who support the Energy sector which is undertrodden and submerged by anthropogenic
factors contributing to climate change and subsequently affecting the earth which now is heavily compromised in terms of its naturalness, beauty, esthetics and bounty wealth of bio-fuel .The urgent need for regeneration of the energy sector through the support of Investors is no doubt a fact on the ground‘’. ’’Countries of the world still taking development steps in response to Sustainable Development Goals targets need more funding than the current amount so that they can run sustainable projects which can make developing countries in Africa, Asia and some parts of the World see the light of development in a changing world in which clean energy is the right path to go for in a modern World.’’ ‘’Clean Energy is environmentally friendly since it does not lead to air pollution which does have negative impacts on the health of the general public. Many forms of energy have led to changes in climate of which resultant adverse effects there-after have led to depletion of the ozone layer. Clean energy solutions today lead us to a habitable disease free world.’said the Expert . Further on, he cited that high cost financing of Infrastructure amounting from 12 billion to 13 billion to lift up Energy project financing in developing countries is vital .He continued that for these countries to grow, they need to lure Investments from the developed World through implementation of sound policies meant to reduce energy poverty in the developing world. ‘’Funding for the purpose of Economic development is vital because they is need to promote GREEN ECONOMY. Therefore, we need to support GREEN ENERGY projects on the ground so that we can reach targets of GLOBAL ENERGY growth and achieve Sustainable Development Goals of the UN,’he concluded. Commenting on the same issue , Shepard Zvigadza , ZERO DIRECTOR , said , Energy financing was as well delayed by lack of political will in many developing countries like in those where civil strife reduce communities to abject poverty in SubSaharan Africa , East and Pacific Asia and in some parts of the World . ‘’Lack of this political will has much trodden developing countries which even up to now need strong financial support to lift themselves out of absolute poverty . Sustainable Development Goals will lift people in many countries out of poverty like how they have done in developed countries
like China, Japan, America and others’’. ‘’Access to finance stands vital, hence the reason why Sustainable Development Goals are important .Although they were not part of the Millennium Development Goals , current Sustainable Development Goals are giving a new image to Energy sources like solar which is in demand. In other words, we are moving towards a GREEN REVOLUTION’’, he said. Talking on Investor incentives to sustain Energy projects, an Expert in the ENERGY SECTOR, Sustain Ziuke said, incentives are important because Zimbabwe is only 40% covered by solar energy. All in all 80% of energy is urban and 19% is rural. We still have a long way to go .He expanded by highlighting that there is need to work towards financing of solar since it is cheap and easy to maintain and for developing countries to research and access other Energy types especially in rural areas so that wood can be saved . ‘’Access to Energy types is the challenge in developing countries. Worse still, wood is 80% to 90% in rural areas and 15 to 30% in urban areas. For Energy development to take place at fast rate in these countries, there is need for GREEN FUNDING, what we call SMART ENERGY for the sustainability of a GREEN WORLD in which humanity is not affected by POLLUTION, especially AIR POLLUTION which result in Respiratory and Cardio-Vascular Diseases, related to Lung cancer, Tuberculosis related to HIV and AIDS and Asthma‘,’he commented. Zimbabwe which still lags behind in Energy development has fuel wood at 60%, liquid fuel 18%, electricity 13% and coal 8%. Although the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable SocioEconomic Transformation promotes Energy projects sustainability so as to reduce poverty, more than half of its population is living in Energy poverty and needs funding to run such projects. Many Energy workshops and conferences this year mainly under auspices of Energy organizations ran under the t h e m e , C L I M AT E F I N A N C E F O R R E N E WA B L E E N E R G Y DEVELOPMENT. Some of them touched on the issue of diesel 50 and how countries can move towards the use of diesel 10 and the use of solar vehicles in the future. The issue of climate change brings in today gender dimensions which call the involvement of women in energy issues because they matter most when it comes to sourcing energy in both rural and urban communities.
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