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{ www.sustainzim.org
@SustainZimbabwe} Think
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Climate Change
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Improved Cookstoves
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“Cutting illness, not trees”
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By Amy Wickham UNICEF Zimbabwe
SustainZim is a tabloid newspaper promoting 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 +263 774 168 975 / 773 456 797, 1 Verona Gardens, 70 Livingstone Ave RSA - Johannesburg +27 11 7603511 / +27 726005283 210 Klein Drakenstein, 31 Snipe Street, Horizon, 1724, Roodepoort CONTRIBUTE contribute@sustainzim.org ADVERTISING A rate sheet is available on request ZIM +263 774 168 975 / +263 77 228 3186 RSA +27 72 600 5283 / +27 11 7603511 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 or 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.
In Zimbabwe, 73.9 per cent of households use solid fuels as the primary source of domestic energy to cook1. Increasingly, this unsustainable harvesting of trees for fuelwood is contributing to deforestation. Both indoor and outdoor air pollution are associated with a broad range of acute and chronic impacts on health however, because of use of biomass as the main source of energy by households in Zimbabwe, indoor air pollution is a higher priority issue with regards to the effects of air pollution on health.
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ccording to the World Health Organization, “4.3 million people a year die prematurely from illness attributable to the household air pollution caused by the inefficient use of solid fuels” 2. In 2012, 661,000 under five deaths globally were attributed to household (534,000) and ambient (127,000) air pollution3. The majority of these deaths were caused by Acute Lower Respiratory Infections (ALRI) attributable to household air pollution. There is also evidence of linkages of household air pollution to low birth weight, tuberculosis, ischemic heart disease, cataracts, asthma, as well as nasopharyngeal and laryngeal cancers4. The number of premature deaths from household Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) is greater than the number of premature deaths from malaria or tuberculosis5.
The ‘Children and Climate Change in Zimbabwe’ study indicated that 50% of the children from rural areas and 40% in urban areas assisted their families in collecting firewood 6 and there has been an increase in school children missing classes because of having to fetch firewood. ALRI’s are a serious problem in Zimbabwe and exposure to cooking smoke from biomass combustion is significantly associated with ALRI prevalence in young children7.
1. MICS 2014, Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2014, Key findings Report. UNICEF, ZIMSTAT. 2. Indoor air pollution and health - World Health Organization fact sheet. 3. WHO 2014, 2012 burden of disease 4. http://www.who.int/indoorair/health_impacts/disease/en/ 5. OECD/IEA (2010) Energy Poverty- how to make modern energy access universal? Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development/International Energy Agency 6. UNICEF/IES (2014) Children and Climate Change in Zimbabwe, 2014. J. Manjengwa, C. Matema, J. Mataruka, D. Tirivanhu, M. Tamanikwa and S. Feresu, http://www.unicef. org/zimbabwe/media_15176.html 7. Mishra V. Indoor air pollution from biomass combustion and acute respiratory illness in preschool age children in Zimbabwe. Int J Epidemiol. 2003: 32:847-853.
Special thanks to UNICEF for partnering with us for the production of this issue.
Woman using her Tsotso stove which she built, Mwenezi Community
PHOTO: AMY WICKHAM @UNICEF 2016
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Batch of Tsotso stoves in Mwenezi Community
Success/ progress to-date
Jengetahuni stove in use, Hurungwe
PHOTOS: AMY WICKHAM - UNICEF 2016
Batch of Completed Tsotso stoves in Mwenezi Community
Tsotso stove warming up for use in Mwenezi Community
Nature of the work to address the problem In 2015 / 2016, UNICEF Zimbabwe conducted two programmes on the use of improved cook stoves which are cleaner, emit less smoke, are more efficient and use less wood with GOAL Zimbabwe. These pro g rammes were conducted in Hurungwe and Mwenezi. Through these projects, women learnt to build the stoves themselves, and then went on to train ten other women within their community, and in some cases more.
Batch of Tsotso stoves before firing in Mwenezi Community
The resources to make the stoves are free and locally available, and their impact is both reducing deforestation and respiratory problems. There are significant health, environmental and economic reasons for the adoption of improved cook stove technologies. Firewood/fuel savings, reduced cooking time, reduced costs for the health sector, increased forest conservation and reduced emissions are some of the additional benefits. The programmes have trained volunteers on the construction and maintenance of cleaner and more efficient cooking technologies and has thus developed the capacity of community
members to conserve their forests, reduce air pollution as well as support climate change mitigation. In making this possible, a very large part of these programmes have been on the advocacy and awareness raising components in order to emphasize how these improved stoves can have a positive impact on the environment, personal health, time and economy. Knowledge shared and lessons learned throughout the programme were significant and in particular that regarding the health impacts associated with inefficient cooking practices, had been largely not well understood prior to this programme taking place.
Through these pilot programmes, U N IC E F h a s re ache d 3 , 4 8 0 households so far (approx. 17,400 indirect beneficiaries). According to stove performance testing which was conducted throughout the programmes, the Tsotso stoves have reduced specific fuel consumption by as much as 39%. Non targeted participants have also adopted the improved cook stoves, and volunteers will continue cascading the trainings and raising awareness on the benefits of using improved cook stoves. Some participants are now selling the Tsotso stove to urban dwellers and growth points to generate some income, thus highlighting that these volunteers can now benefit from the establishment of their own micro business and income generation resulting from this programme. Some additional unintended positive outcomes also include: Better family relations within the household as the men are eating warm food even if they return hours after the food has been prepared. Also the mother, father and children are now spending more time together in the kitchen as there is now more space in the kitchen and less smoke Children going to school on time because they are now spending less time preparing food and heat bath water. Mothers are now able to prepare meals for their children while working in the fields using the portable stove without coming back from the field. The Jengetahuni stove (which is the permanent double plated stove) contributed to general household cleanliness as the ashes are no longer blown all over the house by wind. UNICEF is a leading advocate for children’s rights. We have the global authority to influence decision makers and the variety of partners at the grassroots level to turn the most innovative ideas into reality. We believe that nurturing and caring for children are the cornerstones of human progress.
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S OL A R E N E RGY
Sustainable Energy for Rural Communities Quick Facts
By Martha Munyoro Katsi Practical Action
Project: Sustainable Energy for Rural Communities
Zimbabwe lies in one of the best solar radiation belts in the world, averaging at 2 100 Kwh/m²/ per year and 3 000 sunshine hours/year(equivalent to 300 days of sunshine per year) but the country has not fully capitalised on this opportunity for socio-economic transformation.
Location: Gwanda district, Zimbabwe; Nsanje and Chikwawa districts, Malawi Objective: To generate 200kW electricity to benefit 30,000 people through water pumping for irrigation, small businesses, clinics, schools and other productive uses
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any citizens struggle economically, socially and technologically because they do not have access to energy and the services it enables. However, with funding from the European Union, Practical Action and partners through the SE4RC project are changing this by connecting irrigation schemes, business centres, a school and a clinic to a solar mini grid in rural Gwanda.
Partners: Dabane Trust, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (Zimbabwe) Hivos, Environment Africa and CARD (Malawi). Principal funders: European Commission, GEF Small Grants Programme and OFID, Hivos, Jersey Overseas Aid Commission,
Smallentrepreneur Mr. Winnie Sebata (67) runs a general dealer at Mashaba Business Centre and is planning to expand to sell solar products.“I am happy because of this 99kW powered solar project. It will change the lives of villagers here in Gwanda,” he said, adding that access to energy will drive development.
Project date: February 2015 – January 2019 ILLUSTRATION: SNV
On the health front, Priscilla Mano, a nurse at Mashaba Clinic, said: “Before this project, we used candles and life was difficult for us. Thanks to the project, we can now use proper lighting and modern equipment such as fridges to store vaccines.” Joseph Hwani, Practical Action SE4RC
have been working with the Ministry of Energy and Power Development to develop the renewable energy national policy and support the Ministry’s plans to develop 100 similar mini-grids,” Hwani added that by 2019, the grid will be benefiting more than 10 000 people in ward 19 and the surrounding wards.
Project Coordinator, says the project will generate over 200KW in both countries, to power schools, clinics, businesses and irrigation schemes. He added that it is the first solar-powered mini-grid of its kind in Zimbabwe. “This year, the year 1 of the of the 4 year project, we installed a 99kW solar mini-grid in Gwanda, and
The proj ec t i s supp orti ng lo ca l entrepreneurs to set up ten energy kiosks. These are businesses that sell clean energy products and clean energy powered services particularly to reach poorer more remote
Zimbabwe’s one and only Traditional and Organic Food and Seed Festival is back!
PHOTO: JUSTINE WILLIAMS - PRACTICAL ACTION
A former school teacher, Sebata is also happy that the project will transform education in Gwanda. Sharing the same views, deputy headmaster at Mashaba Primary School, Obert Joseph Ncube, added: “With electricity to power lights, computers and printers as well as provide internet access, we can now match the standards of urban schools, attract qualified and highly experienced teaching staff and improve our pass rates.”
Funding: £4.6 million
households, or ‘last mile’ users. Good links with suppliers will ensure consistent availability of products.
Caroline Jacquet PHOTO SOURCE: CAROLINE JACQUET
Bio Innovation Zimbabwe
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e love every season for different reasons, but even we’ll admit that spring is one of the best. Blooming jacarandas, days nice and warm and slowly lengthening,... and time for our annual Traditional and Organic Food and Seed Festival! So put on your hats and sunscreen, round up the family and join us for a day full of cooking and (most importantly) eating, on Saturday 1st October at the Harare Botanical Gardens. We’ll have an early start with a morning exercise (AfroFit) followed by healthy and traditional breakfasts; an even greater diversity of stalls where visitors can view, sample and purchase some of Zimbabwe’s best and tastiest organic
2015 Food Festival – the food court at lunchtime
and traditional foods and drinks; a seed expo, where seeds can be exchanged and purchased; and cooking demonstrations and talks, a great way to pick up new skills or ask the chefs a question.
And live bands on stage throughout the day. So come along to discover local foods and enjoy a relaxing day out, with loads of family fun!
Don’t worry about lunch, come and treat yourself to some fabulous foods, both Zimbabwean and from around the continent, at the food court.
The Zimbabwe Traditional and Organic Food Forum is a network of organisations, mostly NGOs but also community organisations and farmer groups, private businesses, and university and Government departments. Its core purpose is to increase the consumption of nutritious traditional and organic food. Since 2013, the Food Forum has been organising an annual “Traditional and Organic Food Festival”.
There will be plenty for children to do at the kids’ zone again too, both fun and learning.
Shepherd Masuka, Practical Action’s Project Technician, says collecting fees for energy use is essential. Pre-paid meters will be used by the energy company that will operate the system – this company will be part privately owned (with a private partner buying into the scheme) and part community owned via a trust. “Collect fees from users instills a sense of responsibility and the money is also going to be used for maintenance of the grid,” he said. The tariff will be around 15 cents per kWh which is higher than the ZESA rate of 9cents/kWh. ZESA is heavily subsidized by the government. In the absence of government subsidies, cost reflective tariffs are essential for the provision of energy services and tariffs are agreed in consultation with communities, who are also shareholders in the scheme. Practical Action is an international development agency working with poor communities to help them choose and use technology to improve their lives using technology. Appropriate technologies developed centre around renewable energy, food production, agro-processing, water, sanitation, hygiene promotion, small enterprise development, building and shelter, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
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C L I M AT E C H A N G E
Climate Change Adaptation Success in Buhera By Innocent Katsande OXFAM in Zimbabwe
Oxfam In Zimbabwe
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oaz Chimombe a Master Farmer in Ward 28 of Buhera South District with the support of Oxfam and partners is leading the way in practicing conservation farming and showing fellow farmers in the District that climate change adaptation is possible with minimum resources and mechanization equipment even in the most difficulty of conditions.
‘’Given good rains I was expecting a yield of 15 tones on my plot alone, but now with these unforgiving weather conditions I will be lucky to even harvest 0,5 tones of grain’’. Said Boaz Chiombe, a 59-year-old Master Farmer with over 20 years of experience in agriculture and crop production.
I am now sitting pretty; I now have enough food to feed my family and also sell to others. People used to laugh at my plots. Look at me now, all my hard work and trainings have paid off As harvest failed, Boaz Chimombe resolved to replant on all his Plots mid season. Currently he is harvesting one of the highest yields in the District in spite of the effects of the worst Elnino phenomenon in over 30 years for Southern Africa. In his efforts to adapt Boaz planted Red Sorghum and used legumes such as cowpeas and groundnuts to act as a cover crop, trapping moisture and releasing nitrogen into the soil. He is used the equipment and knowledge acquired from a series of trainings facilitated by Oxfam and partners who are currently implementing a project titled Scaling up Climate Change Adaptation with a focus on Rural livelihoods in Buhera, Chiredzi and Chimanimani Districts. ‘’I am now seating pretty; I now have enough food to feed my family and also sell to others. People used to laugh at my plots. Look at me now, all my hard work and trainings have paid off ‘’ Said Boaz while addressing a Conservation Agriculture Field Day conducted on the 27th of April 2016 with
PHOTO SOURCE: OXFAM ZIMBABWE
The 2015 /2016 farming season has been severely affected due to the effects of Elnino. Buhera was one of the locations which recorded the highest temperatures across Zimbabwe, getting as high as 45 degrees Celsius, in contrast rainfall was at its all time lowest with the district having only received 120ml by mid February fueling a wide spread of crop failure for small holder farmers growing maize and other traditional varieties which usually do well in hush conditions. Boaz and his Wife
Boaz also emphasised the importance of record keeping especially records of rainfall patterns. At the same occasion Agritex emphasised the need to adapt to the changing climate, and utilise rainfall available at any given time. Farmers were advised to embrace innovation such as equipment for adaptation to climate change. The Scaling up Climate Change adaptation Project is promoting conservation agriculture to farmers like Boaz (CA) through supporting establishment of Conservation Agriculture demonstration plots. Various conservation techniques that include use of mechanized equipment, cultivation of drought tolerant crop varieties and intercropping are being practiced. The project has established two demonstration plots in Chimanimani reaching a total of 42 Farmers mostly women smallholder famers.
Conservation Agriculture Equipment The department of mechanisation had the opportunity to showcase the different types of CA equipment available on the market. The following equipment were showcased and demonstrated. Direct seeder Ripper tine Lee Seeder Tshaka hoe The advantages of using different equipment were highlighted. The Climate Change Adaptation Project is a UNDP, GEF funded project being implemented by Oxfam in Zimbabwe in partnership with Plan International, Government of Zimbabwe and Saphire
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the aim of providing a platform for knowledge sharing and learning as well as encourage the full adoption of Conservation Agriculture.
Most read
articles on our website 1. Solar brings joy to Gwanda District Martha Munyoro Katsi (Practical Action)
2. The Emerge Competition: ‘Living Tomorrow’ Ruvimbo Moyo (Emerge)
3. Climate change and Zimbabwe, impacts and action Anna Brazier
4. Harnessing Solar Power to Tackle Energy Poverty in Rural Zimbabwe and Malawi Martha Munyoro Katsi (Practical Action)
5. The Kariba REDD+ Project
Charles Ndondo (Carbon Green Africa)
6. What do tertiary students know about climate change? Raymond Muwaniri (POVOAfrika Trust)
7. Biotechnology Trust Of Zimbabwe Project
Tsitsi Wutawunashe ( Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme - GEFSGP)
8. The 2016 Traditional and Organic Food and Seed Festival Caroline Jacquet (Bio Innovation Zimbabwe)
9. Muunganirwa Fish Project
Raymond Muwaniri (POVOAfrika Trust)
10. Adapting to Climate Change through Protecting and Enriching Natural Woodlands and Forests Thubelihle Nyoni (Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources - SAFIRE)
Read More articles at www.sustainzim.org
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I N N OVAT I ON
Congratulations to the Winners of the 2015/16 Green Innovations Hub Igniting Green Innovation, Catalysing Change The Green Innovations Hub (GiHUB) is an incubation space which seeks to ignite social change and unlock the potential of young people in contributing to sustainable development through novel ideas around smart energy. The purpose of the GiHUB is to facilitate the transformation of promising ideas into practical solutions that address real social challenges faced by local communities in which the young people are resident. The GiHUB offers a project financing facility, incubation and mentorship as well as connecting young innovators to industry giants.
25yrs
24yrs
27yrs
DESIRE ROBIAS GASA MUKUTA
FELICITY VARAIDZO BGWONI
KUDZANAI TATUNHAIRA CHIKARANGO
My innovation is addressing challenges resulting from high costs of energy, a heavy carbon foot-print and unemployment. My solution is the production of efficient, low cost fuel pellets from compressing peanut shells, rice husks and saw dust.
My innovation is solving the problem of toxic bio-digester gas emitted at a local sewage plant. My solution is to address this by using a scrubbing technology to collect, purify and ultimately sell this gas
My innovation is addressing poor value addition to crops due to inefficient preservation processes.
Magic Flame Zimbabwe - Chitungwiza
28yrs
Greenture Investments - Bulawayo
30yrs
Ingenium Smart Energy Solutions - Harare
24yrs
LAZARUS TINASHE MANYONGA
PATIENCE MAJONI
TAFADZWA MAHACHI
My innovation is addressing rampant household waste pollution and expensive fuel sources for cooking. My solution is a thermal retention technology made from recycled material, designed to reduce the amount of fuel used for cooking.
My innovation is addressing off grid energy poverty resulting in poor communication, inefficient and polluted home lighting and missed education opportunities. My solution is a one stop shop solar garden. A solar energy powered ICT hub for distribution of solar products and services.
My innovation is concerned with the failure by small scale farmers to access irrigation systems due to high costs. My solution is a cheap, simple and effective direct solar heat powered pumping system.
Unique Innovations (Pvt) Ltd - Harare
24yrs
Solar Garden Tech - Masvingo
20yrs
Irrigation Solutions Company - Mutoko
21yrs
TENDAI ELVIS MUGOVI
TREASURE SIBUSISO MABHENA
VALERIE DEWAH
My innovation is seeking to address Energy problems and poverty reduction among farmers affected by climate change. My solution is the production of cooking jell from sweet sorghum.
My innovation is solving the problem of slow adoption of solar power because of the high cost of photovoltaic solar panels.My solution is the production of electricity from sun driven convection, of lightly ionized air.
My innovation is concerned with environmental nuisance and lack of access to clean and sustainable energy among low income households. My solution to this is the set up of a biogas production plant, complete with a compression and packaging system.
Bio Jell - Harare
Bulawayo Energy Laboratory - Bulawayo
Nuisance Energy - Masvingo
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To Be A Great Company, You Need To Be A Good Company By Collins Nyamadzawo
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ome of the gaming people here might be familiar with was is called the “Cadmium Crisis” of December 2001. This was a time when 1.3 million boxes of Sony Play station games where blocked for shipment world-over by the Dutch Government from a storage warehouse, this was at the time the Sony management thought their product will be on the store shelves before Christmas. Was it some trade war or embargo against violent video games? I’am sure the Sony management where hoping it was something that easy to rectify. This was because of a small but legally unacceptable amount of Cadmium discovered in the cables of the game controls, the losses were so huge. In replacing the cables and inspecting all 6 000 factories in an 18 month period lost US$130 Million and have since vowed never to be caught unaware of environmental issues again. The lesson from this experience is that: The environment is not a fringe issue, it can cost businesses real money. Let’s face the facts here: The business world and the natural world are inextricably linked, it’s no longer business as usual in 2015. Prof Daniel Esty and Andrew Winston wrote,“To put it more simply every product known to mankind has come from something either been grown or mined.” The clothes you are wearing came from cotton plants, the chair you are sitting came from either wood or steel, the paper was once a tree, the ink came fromvand even threaten the earth’s well-being. This article comes at a time when most parts of the Sub-Saharan region are experiencing drought due inconsistent rainfall as a result of Climate Change. It is recorded that the total amount of rainfall has not changed much but it is the pattern of rainfall that has changed and have completely dashed farmers and people’s hopes of harvesting anything meaningful. Our poor countries are now faced with water scarcity, ozone layer depletion, rising temperatures, hunger and floods. Whether or not we do something about it, the effects are knocking at our doorsteps and they cannot be ignored forever. The “Environmental Thinking” has initiated “The Green Wave” globally which calls for national and cooperate strategies to include environmental sustainability of operations. World over especially in developed countries we are seeing most companies both mega and start-up companies investing so much in order to be smart companies. In this day and age smart companies are seizing competitive advantage through strategic management of environmental challenges. In 2009 Wal-Mart announced that it was going to cut its energy consumption by 30% through energy efficiency by 2015 and they have already attained their target and intend to use 100% renewable energy in the future. For a company of that magnitude and size, their actions can greatly offset a huge amount of carbon dioxide being emitted and will send a huge message to both their suppliers and consumers. With
Junior Energy Consultant
Collins Nyamadzawo, Mandella Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders 2016
all the events happening around us, building a company with recognized values has become the competitive advantage because that also attracts the best people, improves brand value and builds trust with customers. We have companies in our countries that have gone for years dumping toxic elements and no-one saying anything about it because they feel they are the only person and can achieve little but as Malala Yousfazai put it, “When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” I have seen forestry companies burning their wood shavings in open air filling the air with half burnt carbon monoxide infested smoke for days and the surrounding communities have to live with that. Coal companies that just blow waste pulverized coal into the air and these then go into neighborhoods polluting swimming pools, rooftops, drying laundry to mention a few. Production companies, municipalities dumping chemical and sewage waste in rivers killing aqua life, all of them not caring about the consequences of their actions. That is the reason why today Environmental Performance should be an overall indicator of Management Quality within any company. Environmental Issues are not a luxury item rich people have to worry about, if that was the case you would have to look at the case of Celulosa Arauco’s $1.4 billion Valvidia pulp and paper mill in Chile. They had been dumping for years untreated waste in the local wetlands until their actions were implicated in the deaths of thousands of swans, the Government shut down the plant for a month and fined it $10 million and it had to further shut down for 2 months to fix the problem and fired the Executive as a result. Beverage and soft drinks companies have experienced riots in some countries over water usage and abuse and people should always remind themselves that natural resources are the assets on the planetary balance sheet. Farmers need to be mindful of their landuse patterns, water usage and the type of fertilizer they are using if all these encourage the existence of the next millennium. As an entrepreneur, retailer, service provider, consultant there are issues that regard your waste disposal method from the office like
cans, plastics and paper. They also should observe the architecture of the building they are located to see how sustainable is the construction materials, how best they can utilize daylight instead of electric lighting. Hotels, Production plants, Mines should be considerate of their maximum demand and lower their capacity at all cost because that is the definition of being a good company, saving the environment. Those who best meet and find solutions to these challenges eventually lead the competitive pack. Former Wal-Mart CEO, Lee Scot in 2006 said, “We believe that focusing on these (environmental issues) has made us more competitive and an Innovative company.”
companies have even gone way beyond compliance and have realized business opportunities from that. As a multinational cooperate to some entrepreneurs still in their backyard, environmental issues should be considered and see how your product or service impacts the environment and look up for ways on how to lower the environmental risk. Issues around Climate Change, Energy, Water, Waste Management, Food Safety, Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Land Use, Oceans, Fisheries, Deforestation, Chemicals and Toxics should take precedence in today’s business.
So no matter what type of business one is into, it is smart companies that go ahead with the “Green Wave” that fully experience lower financial and operational risks. Other
In conclusion, there is a native American proverb that says.” We do not inherit the Earth from our forefathers, but we borrow it from our children.”
A collection of videos from Dr Pamela Ngwenya shocasing a variety projects dealing with sustainable development around Zimbabwe
View all videos at her Vimeo page https://vimeo.com/user2299194 Mountain of Hope organic farmers association Mountain of Hope is an organic farmers association in Wedza, Zimbabwe, with a community garden project, founded in 2011. The project is jointly facilitated by the Fambidzanai Permaculture Training Centre (FPTC) and the Zimbabwe Organic Producers Association (ZOPPA) based in Harare. The project and project members sell to neighbouring households, nearby boarding schools and to supermarkets in Harare.
Introducing Chikukwa Ecological Land Use Community Trust The Chikukwa Ecological Land Use Community Trust (CELUCT) in Chikukwa, Chimanimani district, is an inspiring community permaculture project that began in 1991.
Victoria Falls Eco-composting Wisdom Sibanda of Victoria Falls shares with us how to make an eco-composting pit at home. The method encourages worms and natural organisms to break down food and garden waste to create a fertile organic compost.
Kufunda - a community of learning We are learning our way into what it takes to build healthy and vibrant community. Our journey is one of exploring and seeking to live what we believe to be possible, perhaps even living the future today.
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F E AT U R E
Chipendeke MicroHydropower Scheme Raymond Muwaniri POVOAFRIKA TRUST
Chipendeke is a rural settlement with a catchment area of 9 villages located 65km outside Mutare, Ward 22 Mupudzi in Manicaland. $65,000 was donated by the European Union for the Chipendeke Micro-Hydro Project through the African Caribbean Pacific Energy Facility. Practical Action, an international organisation dealing with smarter technologies to eradicate poverty was responsible for the implementation of this project The clinic now has satellite television in the mother’s ward for entertainment, patients and staff can charge their phones, listen to the radio and use laptops. Staff houses also have electricity.
Background of the Project
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n October 2008, a potential site for the micro-hydro plant was identified along the Chitoro River that runs through Chipendeka. Practical Action began conducting capacity-building workshops with the community and challenged them to come up with a Community Based Plan document. The plan was approved and a Memorandum of Understanding was drafted. Practical Action would provide the financial resources and technical skills while the community provided labour and raw materials (quarry stones, pit and river sand). Once completed the micro hydropower plant would produce 25KW of electricity and have a lifespan of 20 years.
Construction Construction began on the 23rd of June 2009 with a ritual ceremony to ask the ancestral spirits for a safe and successful project. The community rounded up 10 volunteer builders and 10 volunteer assistants to lead the construction. The total labour cost was estimates at $18,000.
5 structures were built: Diversion Weir – Control gate to divert water required at the power house to turn the turbine(100l/s), 30 days to construct. Main Canal – Channelling water in an open channel and underground pipes, 200m long and 142 days to construct. Fore Bay Tank– Collects water at the top of the slope, a control spill takes excess water back into the river, 42 days to construct. Penstock – 48m long PVC pipes with anchor blocks carrying water down a steep slope to the power house, 32 days to construct. Power House – Contains the turbine and other power generating equipment, 84 days to complete.
Raymond Muwaniri from POVO Afrika interviewing Mr Noah Senga Senga the Secretary General and Spokesperson for Chipendeke Micro Hydro-power Scheme
The main challenge at the clinic is clean running water. They currently use raw water from the river, which is not very clean. In 2015, there was an outbreak of Rubella Measles, which could have come about from the lack of clean running water. The clinic has plans to drill a borehole with a motorised pump and place a septic tank to use for biogas. For further information on the clinic and how to assist please contact the Head Nurse, Mr Chanakira on (+263) 077 498 2081.
Chipendeke Primary School The construction took 325 days to complete ending in June 2010. After transmission site testing, the micro hydropower plant became functional in July 2010 and eventually commissioned by the Governor of Mutare in 2012.
Running of the Project Practical Action conducted further skills training in; business, technical, mechanical, leadership and ‘ Training for Transformation’. A constitution was drafted by the community on a shareholder model, those who put in the work would get an equity share. A board was formed which was responsible for the costings, tariffs, terms and conditions, monitoring and evaluation and service providers. Any household within a 1km radius of the substation would get electricity after paying a connection fee. There are 50 households in the grid, 43 households were connected along with; 6 business shops, a clinic and the primary school with four blocks. The average voltage use in Chipendeke is about 250V.
3 categories were used;
1. $30 connection fee for shareholder (worked on the project) 2. $70 connection fee for other residents 3. $100 connection fees for businesses 4. The school and clinic in the village paid no connection fee
Tariff settings (Prepaid system); - Domestic household 16c/KWhr - Businesses 32c/ KWhr - School and Clinic 10c/KWhr - Maintenance Levy $3/month for households, clinic and school - $15 month for business - $20 allowance for night security guard at the powerhouse.
Chipendeke Rural Health Centre Before electricity was connected, the clinic was using other forms of energy that were costly. They were using lignified petroleum gas fridges to store medicines, which are potentially hazardous. It was particularly difficult to work under candle light at night, especially during delivering of babies with potential raptures and tears occurring.
With electricity; There is an increase in the number of mothers coming to deliver at the clinic, which accommodates up to 10 mothers. The clinic is meeting its 95% monthly immunisation and vaccinations targets due to refrigeration of medicines. Before electricity, the clinic only met 50% of its targets because they regularly ran out of gas and medicines, giving possibilities for outbreaks.
Before the project even began, initial discussions for the micro hydropower project were held at the school premises. The school was a participant and contributed to the collection of local resources. Electricity has brought a lot of advantages for the school; Student have learnt that there are other ways of producing electricity, not just Kariba All classrooms have wire tubing and students can do experiments in science classes, they can learn using gadgets in the classrooms, students are also learning to use the computer. Teachers, especially those from cities stay longer working at the school. There are currently 16 qualified teachers at the school whereas before there was only 9. More parents are sending their children to this school because they see electricity as a good thing. Student numbers have doubled from 300 in 2009 to 600 in 2011 and 640 in 2014. The school was able to use electrical equipment (computer and printer), before they used to have to go to Mutare 65km away. The school has become a popular centre and highly rated by other schools. They now appear on google and get a lot of visitors, in 2014 the school had visitors from the German
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Electricity bring confidence to students and the pass rate has increased to 65%. 3 students from the school won in an essay writing competition for Southern African students. The ECD has also increased in numbers and they have opened a satellite centre because some children were travelling from far. The school now has adult literacy night classes, in 2015 240 registered for O’Levels.
Personal Profile We interviewed Mr Noah Senga Senga for this article, he is the Secretary General and Spokesperson for the Chipendeke MicroHydropower Scheme. Mr Senga Senga is 52 years old and a father of 4. He recently wrote a book called ‘Chipendeke Micro-Hydro Success’, which is still to be published. During the interview, he mentioned that his wife used to complain that he was spending 95% of his time working on this project, working for free without bringing food to the table. Her views changed the day the distribution pole was placed outside their home. He said to her, “Mai bhoyi, basa riya randaiita ndiro iri” (My wife, this is the job I was working hard for).
Mr Noah Senga Senga monitoring the turbine in the Power House
We also interviewed Mrs Senga Senga on the benefits of having electricity in the village. She stated;“Children can study at night improving grades, I can watch Satellite television (DStv), cooking is easier, clinical medicines that need refrigeration can be obtained nearby, pregnant women can stay at the clinic, shops can stay open much later and have fresh meat and cold drinks, children feel like they are in the city, in civilisation.”
Future Plans for the Chipendeke Micro-Hydro Scheme The community is planning to have small cottage industry and light engineering facilities, which include welding, carpentry,
Main canal channeling water from the Diversion Weir to the Forebay Tank
The school is hoping to purchase a generator to cover for the times electricity is not available (presently 5am-5pm). In future they are hoping to build labs, have computer classes and start poultry projects which would benefit the school financially. The school would also like to start training courses for community members on starting businesses and farming education. For more information on the school and how to assist, please contact the Deputy Headmaster Mr Gowa on (+353) 077 385 3072.
Businesses Benefits of electricity according to Mrs Doma, a shop owner at the Business Centre include; Cold drinks, meat and fish can be stored in fridges. They can actually store more in the shop because of lighting Shops and Bars can close late hours because of lighting. They have televisions to screen football and other programs people like to watch.
sunflower and peanut butter making machines and cold rooms. They would like to upgrade the micro hydropower system, to expand the grid to other surrounding villages that need electricity. They are looking to expand to 100KW and for this to happen they need a gear multiplier. The plan is to sell excess electricity to ZESA and conduct trainings to educate other communities on the benefits of electricity. The community hope to attract an investor to assist with their long term plans. For more information on Chipendeke Micro-Hydropower Scheme and how to assist please contact Mr Noah Senga Senga on (+263) 077 498 2081.
Challenges Faced by the Hydropower Project 1. It was agreed from the beginning that work on this project was voluntary but later on others demanded to get paid. 283 participants started on this project but due to conflict 50 completed it. 65% of the participants were women who were more responsive than men as they were the main beneficiaries. Only 10 men did the real hard work which sometimes included working through the night. 2. Initially hot plates and irons were allowed but people were using them simultaneously and causing an overload. Now the board conducts random checks and if any resident is caught using an iron or stove they are fined $50 and failure to pay leads to disconnection. 3. Climate change, recent droughts and irrigation schemes have affected water levels reducing electricity output. Electricity is only be generated in the evenings now 5pm to 5am, during the day water the diversion weir is closed and water in the river is left for irrigation. In the rainy season, water levels are high enough to generate electricity 24hr/day and for irrigation, but rainfall was low for the 20152016 season. If the water is below 6000 litres/ minute during the daytime, it is left for irrigation. 4. There are increased water conflicts as river levels lower. Farmers need water for their irrigation schemes and so does the rest of the community, the business area, the school and clinic. With electricity not available during daytime, facilities in the community are suffering. 5. People are cutting down trees along the river, which is aiding in water loss..
Water released back into the river from the Power House
PHOTOS: RAYMOND MUWANIRI / ARCHIBALD MATHIBELA
embassy who eventually donated money to build a school block.
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The Kariba REDD+ Project Charles Ndondo
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Carbon Green Africa
a s t D e c e m b e r, n e a r l y 2 0 0 governments signalled the end to the fossil fuel era, agreeing to, for the first time, a universal agreement to slash greenhouse gas emissions and to avoid the dangerous impacts of climate change. The inclusive nature of the so-called Paris Agreement is radically different from the Kyoto Protocol, signed in 1997, which drew sharp divisions between the obligations of developing countries and wealthier nations, and that ultimately failed to lower emissions. Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement hinges on political will and on countries putting forth and following up on their own climate action plans.
REDD+ is also the mechanism behind financing deserving projects in the area of forestry, such as the Kariba REDD+. This community owned project in Zimbabwe is operated with the support of Carbon Green Africa, a locally-based organization focused on conservation and reduction of climate change, and South Pole Group. It is financed in its entirety through payments for carbon credits. The project’s raison d’être is to create opportunities and income by assigning more financial value to forests and wildlife when healthy and thriving, rather than illegally logged. In Zimbabwe, due to the agricultural background and our frequent personal experiences with our natural environment, we often talk about the weather in almost
PHOTO SOURCE: CARBON GREEN AFRICA
The Paris Agreement, advocating a goal to reach net zero emissions in the second half of the century, is sending strong signals to global markets, pushing for a quicker transition away from fossil fuels towards a clean low-carbon economy. It is also set to establish a new market-based mechanism that entails a move beyond traditional offsetting while building on the lessons of the Kyoto Protocol’s schemes. Finally, the role of forests has been, for the first time, rooted in the 11-page treaty, with the Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation of forests (REDD+) receiving an explicit mention.
every conversation. People either talk about how hot, cold or dry it is. When it rains continuously for a week, we say how we wished the sun would shine, when our crops are wilting we then want more rain. It seems that we are never satisfied with the weather because of these inconsistencies. This is all due to climate change. Climate change is becoming a commonly used term these days when talking about our weather patterns. There is a way to mitigate these inconsistent weather patterns and this is simply to reduce deforestation and wild uncontrolled fires. These both contribute to climate change. It is estimated that Zimbabwe’s deforestation
rate is between 330,000 – 380,000 hectares of indigenous forest, which is cleared each year. Zimbabwe has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world. The main drivers of deforestation are subsistence agriculture, illegal wood sales, household use due to lack of electricity, tobacco curing and many other factors. When we clear all the land of vegetation cover such as trees and grass, we are removing the protective layer, which protects the soil; this leads to soil erosion, siltation and desertification. Through this, one experiences high temperatures during the day and extreme cold temperatures during the night as well as floods and drought.
www.naturallyzimbabwean.com
The Kariba REDD+ Project has been mitigating climate change in Zimbabwe, by reducing deforestation in local communities through various project activities. A very good example is the conservation farming practices also known as sustainable agriculture. This year due to the drought we are experiencing, only the farmers who have been very disciplined in the conservation farming method will reap an average crop, whist traditional farming practices have proved to be unproductive. The basis of life starts from the soil. If we manage this correctly through farming practices such as conservation farming which encourages good land management resulting in increased yields, therefore reducing the need to clear more land in search of more fertile soils every few years, thus reducing deforestation. Other ways of protecting our soils is through annual controlled fire management and road maintenance in communal areas. This protects our precious indigenous forests from hot fires (this means fires late in the year when matter is extremely dry), which are extremely destructive killing not only saplings but also mature trees, people’s homes and human lives are lost as well, together with small and large animals and their habitat. The Kariba REDD+ Project is doing extensive awareness presentations within the local communities. It is encouraging to learn that these awareness campaigns are having a positive impact in bridging the understanding between most people’s perception of the reality of climate change and the communities’ roles and responsibilities to actively participate and manage their land and natural resources for their benefit and future generations. The benefits these communities receive from the Project, through project activities such as conservation farming, bee-keeping and nutritional gardening depends on how seriously each individual and community takes ownership of the opportunities presented to them through the Kariba REDD+ Project. Carbon Green Africa is an organisation which deals with climate change mitigation issues and facilitates the Kariba REDD+ Project together with rural communities in four districts namely Mbire, Hurungwe, Nyaminyami and Binga and with their respective councils.
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By Samantha Mandiveyi
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JCI CIty - ZImbabwe
t t h e Ju n i o r C h a m b e r Inte rn ation a l ( J C I ) Cit y presentation meeting, the Fix-up Greenwood Park project proposal was lauded as an impressive and ambitious project. And ambitious it is. The objective? “ To transform Greenwood Park and increase the levels of use, physical activity, overall health and wellbeing of the community,” said Qhelile Ndlovu who is currently heading up the project. She was frank about the amount of time, money and hard team work it will take to make this a reality. Greenwood Park is one of Harare’s city parks. Nested in the heart of the Avenues, it was envisioned to be a bustling community park for children and adults alike; but due to lack of maintenance the park has deteriorated. Regardless of this, some of the communities that surround Greenwood Park still use it. Work out groups, walkers, runners, picnickers, children and students studying still
find solace in its naturistic feel in the middle of a busy city. It’s easy to see how this park is important to the health of its community. A perfect challenge for JCI City, whose mission is to empower young people to create positive change in their communities. The project was launched with a volunteer driven clean up on Saturday the 13th of February 2016. The team started by picking up and discarding litter from the Five Avenue Shopping Centre and surrounding areas, making their way up to Greenwood Park. The team then spread out around the park area doing the same and even digging up litter in some cases. The challenge was enthusiastically met by the team of over 75 volunteers rallied through JCI City. The crew of young people drew attention in their lime green regalia and white gloves. The atmosphere smelled of determination, this is a project that these young people believe in. The day ended with a downpour of rain and a vote of thanks from partners; “it seems like our hope and dream for Greenwood Park could actually become a reality,” said an emotional Sharon Hook, the Founder of Miracle Missions which partnered with JCI City for the Valentine-themed Clean-up. Other partners present were Mary Wazara of Maritime Plastics, a manufacturer of soft plastics from recycled waste, Patricia Mukudu, the superintendent of Harare City
Works’ Cleansing Department; Mega Pak, which sponsored 12 color-coded bins for the recycling stations, SWIFT, which availed a truck and 5 young men to remove over 100 bags of collected waste; Simbisa Brands, which provided cool drinks for volunteers in addition to availing 3 energetic young men to participate, while OK Fife Avenue availed 2 of their staff for the clean-up. In her presentation Qhelile mentioned five key areas that would help make this restoration project a success. Together with the city council, the Fix-Up Greenwood Park team came up with a plan that would span over the course of one year at a budget of about $60,000. Their first goal, which is already under way, would be cleaning the park through volunteer driven campaigns such as the one held on Saturday and installing waste bins and a recycle cage. Secondly, some of the parks watering systems need repair so the Greenwood Park can truly live up to its name. The biggest tasks would involve resurfacing the parks walkways, rehabilitating the children’s play area and making the park more secure by fencing it. One of team’s strategies is to not only approach sponsors who will help out financially but also consider organizations with the raw materials and tools that can be used to rebuild the park. An important element to “rehabilitating” Greenwood Park would be supporting some of the community needs by installing
workout stations, study stations and a stage area for entertainment. Lastly they felt it important to help the community come up with a plan to sustain the park and keep it well maintained. Some of the ideas include setting up wifi zones, putting up health food facilities, an outdoor movie theatre and developing a mobile app to manage park volunteers and activities. Upon completion of the project the park responsibilities will be officially handed over to the residents committee. Greenwood Park is one of many parks in Harare that reminds it’s residents how important nature preservation is. Where else in the middle of a concrete jungle can someone escape for a moment to the sounds of trees dancing to the rhythm of the wind, birds singing and fresh air. It is evident this ambitious project is well worth the time and effort. JCI City was founded in 1992 and affiliated to JCI Zimbabwe in 1993. The organisation was mainly formed by Ex- AISEC members from the University of Zimbabwe. Over the years, JCI City has spearheaded various projects, including the establishment of the First street Mall in the City of Harare, creation of the Traffic Safety Council, Junior Councils and the Ten Outstanding Young Persons Program. JCI undertakes projects through the Active Citizens Framework (ACF), a patent road map that entails a thorough diagnosis of problems affecting our society, design of sustainable solutions and the involvement of key partners.
In each issue Luthando and Masimba will be tackling different issues to do with climate change and sustainable development.
Illustrator: Tafadzwa Tarumbwa Written by: Elton Mjanana & Raymond Muwaniri
Fix Up Greenwood Park
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Mr. Green Ambassador The Dereck Mpofu story By Ancillar Dick Green Anbassadors Trust
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theme ‘back to Eden’ have adopted streets in the central business district to maintain and ensure that they have trash cans put in place. The Environmental Church Council which includes the Roman Catholic, Anglican, United Methodist just to name a few are all eager to create a cleaner and safer environment for their fellow countrymen .The churches will hit the streets on the 30th of July for their first clean-up campaign and unveiling the‘back-to-Eden’ campaign .
hen Dereck Mpofu first came to the scene in 2012 as an almost unknown African Environmentalist, all we knew about him was he was the young man behind the voice that brought us ‘Chisikana Changu Zimbabwe’, and was appointed the Green Ambassador by the Harare City Council.
It was his song Tisarase Marara that caught the attention of the country, where he challenged people not to throw litter everywhere as environmental pollution was a resultant factor and we assumed that he would end there. We were somewhat surprised when the Green Ambassador re-appeared on our radar with a historical move that got the attention of clergymen all around Zimbabwe. A man that would not waver his views on the limitations of growth that we had imposed on ourselves as a resultant of our actions and how we were jeopardizing the future of generations to meet their own needs. His solution, was simple and so he engaged the communities to repair their own degraded environments and empower themselves through knowledge .The Green Ambassador’s Foundation became a nation’s beacon of hope, community regeneration and a footstool of a generation hungry for change . His hunger for change and cleaner air led him to the one place that we all turn to for hope –the church
.Dereck Mpofu always had an affinity for the environment, music and God .Earlier this year in an effort to start a revolution and Green the churches he coordinated church choirs to raise public awareness on the subject of waste and refuse management.
“For several years, I’ve always wanted to advocate for green schools and children, even before the Environmental arts competition was put in place. It is a known fact that schools are the best places to change the world, and it is with this partnership that I hope to spread the idea that ‘students should be environmental conscious” says Dereck Mpofu.
However prior to the historical gathering of churches for one cause, all participants will jointly participate in a massive clean-up operation of the Harare central Business District. Mpofu, in an effort to raise awareness of waste management, will also clean on the stated date .His not-for-profit Green Ambassador’s Foundation which works hand in hand with PanAfrika and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate, has partnered with several organizations Go Green, Low Carbon South and Environment Africa to start a green movement in schools towards raising an environmental aware generation. The churches running under the
The Green Student Competition began on the 4th of June and spreading the idea that ‘Green Students be heard’ not only comes easily to the Green Ambassador but also to the Green Team that comprises a team of ethically and culturally diverse young people . The Green Team comprising of Tanyaradzwa who is the Schools coordinator and liaison , Ancillar the corporate relations coordinator , Gibson the schools coordinator , Mercy K the church coordinator and point of contact , Clive the
in-house graphic designer and Charlene the Environmental manager are not only encouraging schools to participate and work towards sustainability but also serve as an example of how to live more sustainably for our young people ;as we all can be advocates . In an effort to engage people on all levels to participate in the Green movement, this year the Green festival will be a 3-day event featuring schools night,clash of the corporates choir and clash of the church choirs . It is slated to be the biggest environmental festival in the capital being likened to the Harare international festival of the arts by organizers. This event will not only be a family filled event but an educational experience for the whole family and to encourage embracing the ‘green culture’ wherever they go. The Green Festival will act as a prelude to the Green Awards set for October where corporates and churches will be recognized for their work in contributing to the Green Movement . Currently he has been elevated to national level as the Ministry of Environment’s official Ambassador appointed by Hon OCZ Muchinguri Kashiri. His star continues to shine brighter than before and as we move towards a cleaner city, an ecofriendly Zimbabwe and an environmental aware generation.
Responding to climate change in Gwanda district By Collen Mutasa / John Siambare Environment Africa / Practical Action
rocaire, with funding from UKAid, is supporting some projects aimed at building resilience against climate shocks and increasing adaptation to climate change among smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe and Malawi. In Zimbabwe, the projects are being implemented through partners, Dabane Trust, Environment Africa, Practical Action and Zimpro. The project sites are in Gwanda, Insiza and Matobo districts in Matebeleland South, a province that generally receives very low seasonal rainfall.
As part of creating awareness among media personnel about practical cases of climate change adaptation, Environment Africa conducted a media tour on 25 February 2016 with a group of 18 journalists from different media houses in Bulawayo. Siva garden, a garden being implemented by Practical Action in Gwanda district, was among a few Trocaire funded projects visited. The garden is run by 32 women who grow a variety of vegetables for their own consumption and also for sale. Through selling vegetables, households are realizing some income which has gone a long way in improving their livelihoods.
In line with reducing greenhouse gases which cause climate change and also move towards the use of renewable energy sources, the gardens use solar powered drip systems, with the water coming from sand abstraction.
Solar panels used to pump water from Hovi River to irrigate the gardens through a drip system
PHOTO SOURCE: ENVIRONMENT AFRICA / PRACTICAL ACTION
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Journalists who participated in the media tour
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Solar lights up new hope for remote school By Anesu Freddy UNDP
Quick Facts Rushinga Solar Pilot Project Rushinga solar pilot project was carried out under the program framework Strengthening National Capacity of Climate Change in Zimbabwe, in cooperation between Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate and UNDP Zimbabwe. Feasibility study was carried in November, 2015.
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t’s September 2014. Joyce Tangwara has just arrived at her new teaching assignment at Nyatsato Primary School.
Installations was carried out over 7 days in January 2016. The installations included training of local school teaching and management staff to ensure that they understood the systems and were able to use and maintain them.
Nyatsato Primary School is in Rushinga District, Mashonaland Central, about 240km away from Harare. A few kilometres away from the school is Zimbabwe’s boundary with Mozambique. There is no electricity or conveniently taped water. Poor roads make it difficult to access. The classrooms and teacher’s accommodation have deteriorated and need urgent repair. Overall, Joyce faces many hardships in her new job. Now, fast-forward a year after arriving at Nyatsato Primary School, Joyce is teaching her Grade 2 class about electricity. She asks the students where electricity that is charging her phone comes from, to which one eager student replies “Harare!” Joyce then instructs the whole class to neatly file outside where she proceeds to give her
PHOTOS: UNDP
She is devastated at having to adjust to her new environment. Unlike in her hometown of Norton, she now has the additional tasks of looking for, and cooking with firewood. Water access is no longer convenient. She cannot listen to the radio or watch her favourite TV show. To call her family at home, she has to walk some distance to find pockets of mobile network which is often erratic. students a practical lesson on solar energy. For many of the students, this is the first time they are experiencing electricity. This is one of the many benefits the solargenerated electricity has brought to the students, teachers and greater community at Nyatsato School. “I can now assess my students work at night. Previously I would have to end lessons prematurely to go through their books,” says Joyce on the benefits the of the solar power installation. She adds “I can now give the students even more attention during the day.” Joyce adds that the students have realised the greatest benefit from the solar installation. “ They now also being exposed to more learning material. One of my colleagues owns a laptop which he uses as a teaching
aid in his classes. Even students from surrounding schools also benefit from using the lit classrooms to do studies at night.” Teachers and the community have also realised value from using solar energy. Joyce and her colleagues are now saving up to buy radios and a communal television and refrigerator. Savings are being realised as less money is used for paraffin and candles. In addition, one of the teachers is complementing his studies using the light to study after hours. The community has also expressed interest in taking literacy lessons after their children’s lessons are finished. Joyce Tangwara is still far from the comfort level she would like. But the installation of the solar system has removed a few of her hardships and has improved her
The installations were carried out by Samansco Solarquest. It included 1) Setup of a 2,4 kW power system for two school blocks, intended for inside and outside lights as well as power to run a computer lab as well as the schools office computer. 2) setup of a 1,68 kW power system intended for lightning and information/entertainment (e.g. TV and radio) for 6 teachers houses. The total costs of the systems including all equipment, installation materials, labour and training of school staff and management were: $USD 42,180.
experience from the time she began teaching at Nyatsato Primary School. Overall, the environmental benefits of the new solar system installed at the school are tremendous. UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in 177 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.
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Own Your Rubbish: Green Discourse to National Gallery of Zimbabwe By Zvikomborero Mandangu wn Your Rubbish at face value, offers crucial insights into the effect that Humanity and its consumption has on the Earth; moreover this exhibition shows the self-destructive impact that, as a race, Humanity continues to indulge itself in its implosive approach to surviving on the planet by use of hazardous materials which will in the long run devastate each and every biome existent on the planet. A brainchild of photographer Laurie MacPherson featuring various creative enterprises and eight visual artists. The means in which the race will extinguish itself are somewhat out of a Cold War Nuclear War novel; however the reality of the Science and Security Board has extended its focus on Climate Change as opposed to Nuclear arsenals. Although the descriptions of an impending apocalypse grip the mind relentlessly, Own Your Rubbish approaches the topic of Environmental responsibility in a concise and honest manner that seems to postulate that there is hope.
MacPherson came in with members of Shingirai Trust and Happy Group
The Tank Installation is the live interactive feature that consists of recycled water tanks and cable spools converted into somewhat acoustic pods lined by canvas cushions. A crate which has been upcycled into a Television stand plays several clips that emphasize the disastrous rate at which waste is polluting the planet. The background music is eerily explanatory of the message, to some point where one cannot ignore the brutal truth of Chester Bennington’s vocals on “What I’ve Done”; a conscious play by the artist to provoke both aural and visual senses. This interactive hub serves to give individuals an opportunity to relax and focus all their attention on the exploits on-screen ; thereafter, continuing the conversation amongst themselves.
From Left: The Curator of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Raphael Chikukwa; the organizer of the Exhibition, Laurie MacPherson and the Head of the European Union Delegation in Zimbabwe, His Excellency, Mr. Phillipe van Damme made remarks at the opening of the Own Your Rubbish show.
and the continuous dumping of refuse in oceans are discussed. From the Zimbabwean viewpoint, such matters may apparently be turned a blind eye to; being landlocked and non consumptive of Nuclear energy, the events centering on these particular facets of the exhibition tend to be completely foreign to the local audience, however one gets to question what effect these crises do to countries upstream and the effects on weather patterns and such come to mind. On the Nuclear energy side, one may view how the effect on marine life draws out and indirectly that may put freshwater species at risk of dying due to radiation. Apart from the habituating prowess of the octopus there is the clear and present stress on all creatures of the water as the placards within the exhibition point out.
seat there is an immediate wave of comfort that is contrary to the rigid appearance of the treads. Clive Mukucha’s Pipe Dreams is more conceptual as it bears a demeanor that projects the presents of sound through form. The prize winning Reading Chair by Victor Nyakauru has all the trimmings of a recliner, however composed of metal and leather belts. This chair is definitive of “Reduce, Re-use and Recycle” mantra as it is endowed with clearly beat down material such as leather, cable casing and the crowning helmet; which can be used as a lamp. The hanger forming the stand for said lamp can purposefully hold the readers jacket and consolidates the functionality of the chair. The footrest is a computer keyboard and for one with the nimble talent to type with their feet, the design of this recliner would surely suit them well!
The act of Up-Cycling and Art have always been cohorts as indicated by the presence of eight practicing visual artists. What stands out is the presence of concept chairs constructed from found objects; sculpted into various fragmentary thrones, each with a witty title addresses the grim reality of society’s awful waste management. Ngonidzashe Tsiga’s Tyred Out clearly brings to question the disposal of vulcanized rubber tyres wherein the various uses for these objects such as the construction of swings and obstacle courses comes to mind. The chair, at first sight, bears no semblance to ergonomic ease, however upon sitting on the
A curtain woven out of VHS Cassette tape speaks volumes on the objective and brings an aura of how ephemeral anything manufactured could be. It’s proximity to infographics on Waste Management centers and tips on how compost can be built brings a nostalgia of how video tapes are now obsolete and sadly have very few functions to be repurposed. Herein rises the panacea of what media such as compact discs, video tapes and floppy discs can be used for- expert craftsmanship and design.
Several pieces are on sale; the Impala trophies made out of plastic and wire are pro animal life and crafted with attention to pattern and form. Upon closer inspection, the skeletal wire frame is tactfully shaped whilst the strips of PET strips flesh out the basic frame in a way that reminds one of Venetian Blinds. Arguably, the Impala heads could have a very fitting functionality as lampshades. Non-biodegradation is the major threat which Own Your Rubbish addresses as various issues ranging from nuclear leaks
Reading Chair by Victor Nyakauru
PHOTOS SOURCE: NATIONAL GALLERY OF ZIMBABWE
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National Art Gallery Zimbabwe
Overall, Own Your Rubbish serves as a vehicle to provide ‘in- your- face’ reflections on the issues facing Zimbabwean society and the globe. The notion that Waste Management is highly viewed as mundane while coupled with a growing population and hyper consumerist sentiment that bleakly quashes hope and any insight towards positively changing the world towards a cleaner and greener lifestyle. It echoes Former American Vice President Al Gore’s documentary An Inconvenient Truth in a manner that the immediate threat is always brushed aside and without foresight, the planet and all its occupants shift ever quickly towards catastrophe, an approaching extinction level event by humanities own needs and wants. The National Gallery of Zimbabwe will hold its Annual Tavatose/ Sisonke Schools and Colleges Exhibition in July under the theme Waste no Waste; Trash is Treasure, supported by the Environmental Management Agency. The National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) is a gallery in Harare, Zimbabwe, dedicated to the presentation and conservation of Zimbabwe’s contemporary art and visual heritage.
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D I R EC TORY & E V E N TS
How to contribute
Contributors
Aims and Objectives Bio Innovation Zimbabwe T: + 263 772 158313 E: caroline@bio-innovation.org; E: hararefoodfestival@gmail.com www.bio-innovation.org; www.naturallyzimbabwean.com
Kariba REDD+ Project T: +2634 774567729 E: info@carbongreenafrica.net www.carbongreenafrica.net
Development Reality Institute
Kariba REDD+ Project
T: +263 496987 E: info@driafrica.org www.driafrica.org
T: +2634 774567729 E: info@carbongreenafrica.net www.carbongreenafrica.net
Practical Action Southern Africa Environment Africa 11 Rossal Road, Greendale, Harare T: +263 4 492148/55 C: +263 772 249 730 E: collen@environmentafrica.org www.environmentafrica.org
T:+263 776631-3 E: practicalaction@ practicalaction.org.zw www.practicalaction.org/southernafrica
OXFAM Forestry Commission E: makotoviolet@yahoo.com/
Block 9, Norfolk Road Arundel Office Park, Mt. Pleasant, T: +263 4 2918473 / 4 700 824 C: +263 (0) 773 282 485 www.oxfaminzimbabwe.org
Green Impact Trust M: +263-0772 450457 F: Green Impact Trust T: @GreenImpactt
Provide a resource for Green Issues in Zimbabwe (print & Online) Educate Zimbabweans on Global Warming and Climate Change Reach out to communities on the importance of Sustainable Development Change of mindset and reduction in Zimbabweans carbon footprint Showcase current green projects in Zimbabwe with hope of emulation
Results and Outcomes Tangible newspaper that educates Zimbabweans on Green Culture Database on all Green Initiatives in Zimbabwe Change of mind-set of our readers towards a more sustainable livelihood Emulation of current green projects and increase in the number of green initiatives Increase of more environmentally friendly practices
Submission Guidelines
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Articles to be between 350 - 850 words maximum (In English). 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 submitted must be original work that has not been published previously, and is not currently under consideration by any other publication. All articles will also be published online on www.povo.co.zw After article has been published on the website the author may publish on their own platforms POVOAfrika Trust reserves the right to showcase the work in its marketing material eg, brochures etc. with a written consent from the creator. You are encouraged to share your articles!
Empowered lives. Resilient nations.
UNDP Zimbabwe Tel: 04 338836-44 Email: registry.zw@undp.org Web Address: www.zw.undp.org TM
JCI CIty - Harare Harare Club Corner third Street and Nelson Mandela E: jciharare@gmail.com www.jciharare.org.zw
UNICEF Zimbabwe T:+263 4 703941/2 or 731840 E: harare@unicef.org www.unicef.org/zimbabwe
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SUSTAINZIM - THINK LIVE STAY GREEN!
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Developing climate change mitigation and adaptation responses through climate smart agriculture in Zimbabwe By Desire Nemashakwe Green Impact Trust
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s a member of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Zimbabwe has been actively participating in global efforts to address climate change through various programmes, including the National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS), the Climate Policy (CP), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Agricultural policies and other adaptation plans and mitigation actions.
employment, food security and other development indicators, it becomes vital to increase the country’s adaptive capacity to the negative impacts of climate change. Climate Smart Agriculture, a UN FAO concept, focuses on increasing agricultural productivity and incomes, increasing resilience through adaptation and reducing or removing greenhouse gas emissions where possible. Climate Smart Agriculture ensures that communities are able to increase their productivity and incomes, and resilience to the impacts of climate change whilst also contributing to the reduction in greenhouse gasses.
Preamble Green Impact is a registered Trust, Reg No. MA1315/2014, that works with government and business in promoting
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Mushroom growing starts from spawn production (spawn is seed when it’s conventional farming) Usually autoclavable plastic are used but we are now using clear bottles. We wanted a model that produced less waste and cost effective. Our solution was to use clear non returnable bottles from dumps, bottle stores, homes and roadsides.
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The outlook is great as we now on commercialisation stage. Benefits of this model including saving the environment, creating employment, a cleaner city, higher profitability as we cut cost, a more sustainable environmental conscious business income. The bottles have a longer life than their original use. The growing media is made of industrial waste, another opportunity to reduce waste and greening of our city and grow delicious, nutritious, healthy and organic food.
The Home of Mushrooms in Zimbabwe 0773 842 677
nmupaso@mushtella.com
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Green Impact programmes aim to alleviate the negative impacts of climate change which continue to threaten the sustainability and business of agriculture in communities which mostly depend on agriculture-based livelihoods. Green Impact engages students from agricultural colleges, across the country, in implementing Climate Smart Agriculture across the value chain, focusing activities behind and beyond the farm gate.
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Project Summary
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Mushrooms and Sustainable Farming
To promote and sustain climate smart agriculture initiatives, develop and manage capacity building, mentorship, climate smart technologies and entrepreneurial programmes with higher and tertiary institutions as a contribution to sustainable development, climate change mitigation and adaptation for environmental, social and economic development of Zimbabwe.
ILISED &
With agriculture being one of the largest contributors to economic growth and development through direct and indirect
Mission Esigodini Agriculture College
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Green Impact Trust (GIT), a local nongovernmental organization, applied to UNFCCC Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN), through the UNFCCC CTCN National Designated Entity (NDE) from Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate (MEWC) and was successful in receiving UNFCCC CTCN Technical Assistance to developing a climate smart agriculture manual for university level and professional level agriculture education in Zimbabwe. The programme will be supported by Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate, Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanization and Irrigation Development, Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development.
Climate-Smart Agriculture programmes as a response to climate change. Green Impact programmes focus on developing higher and tertiary institutions as centers of excellence in increasing the adaptive capacity of agricultural communities to climate change.
www.mushtella.com
After 30 days mushroom
DAYS spawn is ready and bottles are cleaned and reused!
The Green Snippets CLIMATE CHANGE
Obama breaks from Yosemite family trip to urge Americans to stop climate change President Obama on Saturday broke from his family vacation in Yosemite National Park to urge Americans to act on climate change, which he argued is destroying the country’s precious natural resources. “Make no mistake, climate change is no longer a threat, it’s a reality,” the president said in a roughly 10-minute speech, ahead of the upcoming 100th anniversary of the National Parks system. [Source: http://www.foxnews.com] SUSTAINABILITY
Education for Sustainable Development is Vital for Africa With the goal of building a platform for African universities to establish such training programs, United Nations University Institute for Sustainability and Peace (UNUISP) officially launched the ESDA Project in October 2008. Within the ESDA framework, Kenyatta University has been preparing a Masters of Science program in sustainable urban development, which aims to produce students who are willing to work with the community-based projects in slums together with actors such as Umande Trust. [Source: http://ourworld.unu.edu]
CONSERVATION
The Big Cats Initiative National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative was founded in 2009 with Dereck and Beverly Joubert—filmmakers, conservationists, and explorers-in-residence—as a longterm effort to halt the decline of big cats in the wild. The Big Cats Initiative supports efforts to save big cats through assessment, on-the-ground conservation, education, and a global public-awareness campaign to shine a light on this issue called “Cause an Uproar,” launched in partnership with Nat Geo WILD. With your support, the Big Cats Initiative has funded over 80 grants across more than 25 countries. See where in the world we’re supporting onthe-ground research and conservation to help save big cats in the wild. [Source: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com] DEVELOPMENT
Why sustainable development is so difficult in rural Africa There is a lot of debate about how to create sustainable communities, but nowhere is this more difficult to achieve than in poor subsistence farming communities in Africa. I have just returned from a trip to Uganda aimed at ensuring the sustainability of an integrated development project we are supporting in the sub-county of Katine. With the help of Guardian and Observer readers as well as Barclays Bank, we are investing £2.5m to help transform the lives of 25,000 people in the poor agricultural community around five hours drive north-east of the capital, Kampala. [Source: http://www.theguardian.com]
STEP 4
AGRICULTURE
Sustainable farming Agriculture is an important regional driver of rural development, job creation and poverty alleviation. Farming practices must therefore not only protect the long-term productivity of the land, but also ensure profitable yields and the well-being of farmers and farm workers alike. In the South African context, the agricultural sector is a critical stakeholder in the management of our natural resources, with 80% of the land surface owned by agriculture (including small-scale farmers, emerging farmers and commercial farmers). Nearly two thirds (63%) of all our freshwater resources are currently being used by irrigated agriculture. [Source: http://www.wwf.org.za] WASTE MANAGEMENT
Landfill Gas To avoid the environmentally harmful effects of this, landfill gas can be collected and used as an energy source for heat and/or power. Wells are inserted into the waste to collect the gas through a series of perforated pipes. A suction pump collects the gas, which is then cleaned and used as a source of energy. Currently, there are five landfill gas recovery facilities in operation in Ireland. [Source: http://www.seai.ie]