Sustainzim - Issue 05

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{www.sustainzim.org

@SustainZimbabwe}

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QUARTER 01 ISSUE 05 / 17

Stay Green!

CLIMATE CHANGE

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Rainwater Harvesting and Integrated Planning for Resilience

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WETLANDS

The Value of Wetlands

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INNOVATION

RECYCLING

Young Innovator gets a life line from GiHub and Declares war on waste

Economic opportunities that lie within hyacinth

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F E AT U R E

Promoting Zimbabwe’s underutilised superfoods; improving rural livelihoods Page 8

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

NO T

FO

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{www.sustainzim.org

@SustainZimbabwe}

Think

Live

QUARTER 01 ISSUE 05 / 17

Stay Green!

CLIMATE CHANGE

Rainwater Harvesting

and Integrated Planning 02 for Resilience

INNOVATION

06

WETLANDS

The Value of Wetlands

Young Innovator gets a

life line from GiHub and 11 Declares war on waste

RECYCLING

16

Economic opportunities that lie within hyacinth

Rainwater Harvesting and Integrated Planning for Resilience

By Joy Mlambo UNV – UNDP/Environmental Management Agency

F E AT U R E

Promoting Zimbabwe’s underutilised superfoods; improving rural livelihoods Page 8

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 / +263 773 456 797, 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 77 291 8810 / +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 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.

Integrated planning for resilience The effects of climate change have become common, however a cumulative effort is necessary if resilience is to be build. Emily Matingo a Climate Change Scientist from the Climate Change Management Department in the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate elaborates on this, “When there are climate extremes, such as drought, water levels decrease thus affecting the mandate of ZINWA whose vision rides on providing universal and affordable clean and safe water to drink and for domestic and other purposes.

However, due to a decrease in water, livestock suffer as there is not enough water for them to drink and forage area and quality is affected.

In addition, the community may in turn suffer as low crop yields are usually realised which may lead to malnutrition (especially in children) and food shortages. Low harvest yields may also cause extreme poverty leaving communities to rely solely on forest resources for their survival thus leading to an increase in unsustainable forest management practices such as deforestation. Furthermore, the plight of women and girls is worsened by climate change induced droughts as they have to walk longer distances in search of water.”

To solve the ripple effects that come with climate change Emily Matingo went on to say, “Adaptation is context specific and a range of measures requiring multidisciplinary collaboration are required even in one location to build resilience among rural communities.

It is therefore fundamental that sectors work together to reduce vulnerabilities to climate change if we are to become resilient .as a nation.”

The problem of climate change and extreme events in Chiredzi.

In 2015, OXFAM in partnership with the University of Zimbabwe under the Scaling up Adaptation with a Focus on Rural Livelihoods Project conducted a rapid assessment in Chiredzi which saw different government departments and community stakeholders participating in the process. As a first step, the various stakeholders identified a number of problems affecting them as a result of climate change. The problems were as follows: The civil protection committee highlighted concerns over the frequent occurrence of flash floods, “Chiredzi District can receive in a single flash flood about 130mm of rain in 24 hours.” They also went on to explain how the flash floods were leading to soil erosion from runoff that came especially from roof tops.

The environmental sector indicated that a lot of gullies were being formed as a result of the runoff that was drawn from rooftops during the heavy rainfall events.

The community explained how the y experienced water shortages.

Water scarcity In Pictures - Chiredzi District

Chingele Primary School headmaster, Mr Tyanai Sithole had the following to say as an example,“The school has an enrolment of 800 pupils but only has one functional borehole located 500 metres from the closest classroom block. This takes away important learning time for pupils who have to go in pairs if one needs to fetch some drinking water.” Adding on to this, he mentioned how the distance made it difficult for the school authorities to improve the aesthetic value of the school environment because it was difficult to establish flower beds, gardens and orchards.

The stakeholders also explained how the frequent occurrence of droughts were leading to a decrease in the quantity and quality of pasture thus also leading to overgrazing and ultimately making the land prone to soil erosion in heavy rainfall events.

The case of Chingele Primary School Water Harvesting Project.

Having identified the challenges mentioned above, stakeholders from Chiredzi District, working through the Scaling up Adaptation Project identified rainwater harvesting as an adaptation strategy with multiple benefits, solving most of the problems that had been identified; water for the school children and environmental benefits for the community through reduced soil erosion and gully formations.

Declining pastures & livestock productivity in Chiredzi District

However, stakeholders realised that the full benefits of the identified adaptation strategy could only be realised if they worked together in a coordinated way as they had done during the planning stage.

As so, Chiredzi Rural District Council spearheaded the process by carrying out site assessments basing these on the status of the roofs and number of blocks for water harvesting. From these, Chingele Primary School was selected to be one of the six sites where water harvesting would be piloted. This process was then followed by involvement from Department of Mechanisation and Irrigation Development under the Ministry of Agriculture Mechanisation and Irrigation Development who provided technical guidance on the design and supervision for construction of the water harvesting structure. “ The tank has a capacity of 55 000 litres and

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C L I M AT E C H A N G E was constructed in a way that will prevent dirt from flowing in and contaminating the water. It was also constructed in such a way that it can be constantly cleaned to prevent formation of moulds” describes Brian Madzinga from the Department of Mechani sation and Irrig ation Development Chiredzi.

Refusing to be left out from the work was also the community leadership that encompassed councillors, headmen and village heads who helped in mobilising communities for the construction of the water harvesting tank. The response the community gave was tremendous. Not only did they provide locally available resources such as sand, bricks and stones but they also provided their labour during the construction of the tank. In all this, AGRITEX became a bridge between the technical departments and the community as they contributed in coordinating the two parties.

Progress towards the setting up of Chingele Water Harvesting Project has +been successful with minimal back draws as stakeholders from different backgrounds managed to work together and are continuing to work together in a coordinated manner. As a result, vast benefits which address the mandates of

Completed water harvesting tank at Chingele Primary School

many government institutions are already being realised and others expected to materialise from the coordinated efforts invested in the Chingele Water Harvesting Project as the project continues to unfold.

the school garden. The water however is not yet being used for consumption purposes as Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Environmental Management Agency still need to test it,” he adds on.

“Following the completion of the tank in 2016, it has been full to capacity with the rains received only between the period of December 2016 and January 2017. They had to actually let some of the water out” Farai Shonhai from Plan International, who is also the Project Coordinator for the Scaling Up Adaptation Project in Chiredzi expresses.

“We have already begun to realise the benefits of the tank especially in relation to water availability. Children at the school are using this water for washing hands as well as in

In an effort to continue building resilience through integrated planning, AGRITEX plans to use the water harvesting tank at Chingele Primary School as a community resource centre where farmers from the surrounding community can learn about rooftop rainwater harvesting as an adaptation strategy to climate change and its advantages in relation to improving their water and food security so that ultimately, the community replicates the idea on a household level. Plans are also underway to make use of this water

Mushrooms and Sustainable Farming 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.

STEP 4

STEP 1

STEP 2

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 3

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.

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This one burns

HRS average 6 hours.

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

nmupaso@mushtella.com

Apart from various stakeholders coming together and working in a coordinated fashion, the success of the project is also anchored on the continued support the project gets from the donor community: UNDP/GEF who is working through Oxfam and its partner Plan International a nd th ro ug h the E nv i ro n me nt a l Management Agency.

E N E R GY

STEP 5

I use a big container for more heat and it burns longer (5-6 hours) .

Use a small container for cooking.

to support a nursery, woodlots and fruit tree production at the school with Forestry Commission supporting the initiative. This will not only improve the aesthetic beauty, but will help to reduce erosion of the soil and thus ultimately improve the general environmental management around of the area.

www.mushtella.com

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.

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E D I TOR I A L

Green Initiatives in Zimbabwe

By Raymond Muwaniri, POVOAfrika Trust

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SustainZim’s mandate is to educate and inform the people of Zimbabwe about Sustainable Development and showcase initiatives being undertaken in the country. Issue’s 1-4 published in 2016 showcased initiatives by the government, civil society groups, businesses and individuals. We intend to showcase more initiatives in 2017 which can be emulated countrywide, therefore contributing towards the achievement of our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

n this edition we showcase ‘Rain Harvesting’ in Chiredzi aimed at scaling up adoption and improving rural livelihoods. Rain Harvesting is simply the collection of rain water for recycling, once collected the water can be used for agriculture, in times of drought and water shortages etc. Rain water is the biggest cause of soil erosion, as water runs off it cuts though the soil creating gullies that get deeper each year. These gullies are hazardous to the people and their livestock.

This process is sped up by deforestation, as there are fewer trees to hold the soil in place.

By collecting rain water there is less runoff and it can be used to the maximum effect.

More focus needs to be made on ‘Clean Energy’ in Zimbabwe as we are still heavily dependent on non-renewables (coal, petroleum). Nevison Mpofu explains in his article how we can slowly wean ourselves off high carbon producing elements like diesel and incorporate them with renewables like solar. Increased Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere from human activities is causing global warming, hence the need for more clean energy technologies and systems.

‘Sustainable Cities’ is goal number 11 on the UN SDGs list. These goals need to be incorporated into national policy creating a rapid change of mind-set, including the designing of cities and their infrastructure.

A Sustainable City is designed in such a way as to minimize environmental degradation, with facilities (transport, waste management, etc.) designed to limit their impact on the natural environment, while providing the infrastructure needed for its inhabitants. This is not yet evident in Zimbabwe! In an article by Steven Mashoko Grey he suggests the need for a new ‘Urban Planning Agenda’ catered for by a Sustainable Cities Program. Zimbabwean cities have a huge ‘Ecological Footprint’ which is also being fuelled by corruption and poor governance.

Sustainable Cities ties in with the loss of our valuable wetlands, especially in Harare where they are being destroyed and build upon. An example is the Long Chen Plaza Mall which was built on a wetland, and some stands in Chitungwiza. In this issue we reiterated the need for articles that discussed the importance of wetlands. Freeman Asima and Leslee Maasdorp contributed articles on the ‘World Wetland Day’ held in Harare in February. This encourages further

education on wetlands, especially amongst children who are the future of our country. In the past wetlands (known as doro in Shona) were sacred and tradition ceremonies were performed on them to encourage the start of the rainy season. It is the modern day that has wetlands under threat from human expansion and urban development.

It’s important to stress the education of youths and their involvement in Sustainable Development initiatives. Youths have imaginative minds that sometime yields the best ideas. UNICEF Zimbabwe is currently running a ‘Green Innovation Hub’ (GiHuB), which has produced some brilliant but simply ideas from Zimbabwe’s youths. You can read more about this initiative on; http://www. sustainzim.org/winners-201516-greeninnovations-hub/. In this issue Darlington Tshuma talks about the importance of ‘Accelerating Youth Participation and Involvement in National and International Development Processes through Youth Forums’. Youths in Zimbabwe make up more than 60% of the population, so it is important that they are included and contribute to the decision making processes that affects their future.

In our past, the people of Zimbabwe ate a wider variety of foods which were healthier and more organic. Modernisation and rural to urban migration has led to the loss of indigenous knowledge of traditional foods.

With obesity, heart disease, blood pressure and diabetes on the rise there needs to be a shift from conventional to more organic foods. In 2015 there was a craze for the Quail bird which was believed to have healing properties. Also, the consumption of traditional foods like millet and sorghum is slowly increasing showcasing the begging of a change in mentality to healthier options.

Bio-Innovation Zimbabwe (BIZ) is an organisation that researches, develops and promotes underutilised indigenous foods and they submitted an article that promotes such foods. Increased knowledge and intake of indigenous foods improves rural livelihoods.

The cartoon in this edition of SustainZim talks about how communities in Zimbabwe are not benefiting from their local natural resources. There is a lack of ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ (CSR) leading to severe environmental degradation in a lot of areas around Zimbabwe. Our country is blessed with a lot of natural resources and our communities should benefit from their

extraction. We do not want to end up with a situation in the future whereby our country remains poor and with no resources left. This is a callout for our government to implement CSR into policy, therefore benefiting the communities and making mining companies and businesses accountable. Zimbabwe has the potential to become one of the leading countries in Africa, I hold my hopes high.

How to contribute PRINT RUN

10 000 Submission Guidelines

COPIES

Articles to be between 350 - 750 words maximum.

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

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

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

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

You the creator will retain all rights to your work.

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

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

TOP

Most read

10

articles on our website

1. Chipendeke Micro-Hydropower Scheme Raymond Muwaniri (POVOAfrika Trust)

2. How can mining become more environmentally sustainable Environmental Management Agency

3. Sustainable Development Goals in Zimbabwe Raymond Muwaniri (POVOAfrika Trust)

4. Interview with Hon. Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri (MP) Raymond Muwaniri (POVOAfrika Trust)

5. Towards Zimbabwe’s National Adaptation Plan Joy Mlambo (UNDP ZIM)

6. Putting Value in Waste Oswald Simbarashe Chishanga (Save Our Environment Trust)

7. Behavior change: The panacea to climate change Bakani Mathe (Trocaire - Climate Justice Advocacy Club)

8. Solar brings joy to Gwanda District Martha Munyoro Katsi (Practical Action)

9. Young Africa Zimbabwe offers Solar Technology Courses Maloon Dahwa (Young Africa Zimbabwe)

10. COP21 And COP 22 Youth Digital Climate Mapping Jeremiah Mushosho (UNICEF Zim)

Read More articles at www.sustainzim.org

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C A RTOON

What happened to our cow?

It has fallen into this mining pit!!! It’s those Gweja boys, they are illegally mining here and not covering up their pits when they are finished.

What are they mining dad?

Illustrator: Tafadzwa Tarumbwa Written by: Raymond Muwaniri

Gold, Chrome, Platinum, anything for a quick buck with no care for the environment My teacher also told me that more mosquitos are breeding in these pits because of the stagnant water. A lot of children in school have been sick with malaria.

Your teacher is right, we need to complain to Sabhuku, Lets Go there now!!!

How is the community benefiting from the extraction of these rocks from the mountains dad?

We are not benefiting son, these mining companies are destroying our unique granite mountains, taking our valuable resource without contributing anything back to the community.

The only thing the mining So our Black Diamond is companies have done for the disappearing and we community is to slaughter a cow have gained nothing? on Independence and Hero’s day and buy a few scuds to get us drunk. Shame on them!!!

Will the rock on the mountain grow back dad?

No it will not Son, what’s worse is that this mountain has been a major part of our history and heritage. Traditional and cultural ceremonies were held here and we spoke to our ancestors through these mountains. Old chiefs and other important traditional leaders were buried here.

Maybe their remains have been taken to the museum in Harare?

No one knows what they did with the remains of our ancestors, the miners don’t care.

Our children are dying How can you throw away from malaria because our history and heritage, Vadzimu will not bless you of those pits Sabhuku, Traitor!!!

?!!!%$£

What have you done with our money?

The mining We are not companies are Only Sabhuku, the benefiting from paying you to keep the granite rocks? Councillor and the MP us quiet are benefitting!!!

Illegal mining is destroying the environment, it is causing deforestation and siltation is rivers.

Liquid mercury is being used to extract gold, therefore contaminating drinking water. People and livestock are accidentally falling into illegal mining pits causing severe injuries and sometimes death. Communities are not benefiting from the natural resources being extracted from their areas. There seems to be a lack of Corporate Social Responsibility.

Sabhuku – Village Head

Vadzimu – Ancestors

Our cattle are dying in those mining pits

Some heritage sites (Mutoko) have not been officially recognised, the rich history and heritage they hold is being lost. Our tradition and culture in Zimbabwe is slowly being eroded and nothing is being done about it. Community members need to sit down with their local leaders (Chiefs, Councillors and Village Heads) and engage their local politicians (MP’s, Ministers) to express their grievances and come up with viable solutions for everyone’s benefit including the environment.

Black Diamond – Granite Rock

Corporate Social Responsibility – approach that contributes to Sustainable Development by delivering economic, social and environmental benefits for all stakeholders.

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WETLANDS

The Value of Wetlands

By Freeman Asima, Intern, UNICEF Zimbabwe

World Wetlands day, Mukuvisi Woodlands Harare Province held celebrations of World Wetlands Day on the 10th of February 2017. The event held at Mukuvisi Woodlands was spearheaded by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) together with its partners; City of Harare, UNICEF, ZUNA, Conservation Society of Monavale (COSMO), Birdlife Zimbabwe, Community Alliance and Mukuvisi Woodlands. World Wetlands Day is an opportunity for the world to learn about the value and importance of wetlands. Why should you care? Consider what wetlands do for you.

W

etlands are the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth. They serve as a sponge, soaking up rainfall and slowly releasing it over time.

They are also useful as natural sewage treatment works, absorbing chemicals, filtering pollutants and sediments, breaking down suspended solids and neutralizing harmful bacteria. Wetlands provide ecological services such as flood control, carbon storage and food production. They absorb and replenish water to buffer our communities from flood and drought risks and act as vital nesting and feeding grounds for waterfowl while providing a nursery habitat for fish. At least half of our wildlife species rely on wetlands for at least part of their lifecycle. Wetlands are fast disappearing due to the development of roads, cities and drainage for agriculture. Many wetlands provide recreational opportunities such as walking, hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing and canoeing.

Alarmingly, the global extent of wetlands is estimated to have declined by as much as 71 per cent since 1900, according to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Most of the country’s wetlands, including Monavale Vlei, Lake Chivero and Victoria Falls were once on the verge of complete destruction through construction in the area but intense lobbying from civil society organisations including COSMO and Birdlife Zimbabwe has saved the wetlands.

Areas which used to have water at between 15m and 18m below the earth surface, has gone down to 30m in some parts of Harare owing to the destruction of wetlands. All around the world, wetlands are amongst the most threatened of habitats. It is estimated that nearly three quarters of the

world’s inland wetlands have been lost over the last century. Canalizing rivers and limiting drainage reduces the natural floodplain sponge effect and makes flood surges more powerful. Draining or filling in wetlands for agriculture and development removes their function as a natural sponge against flooding.

This highlights that globally, mismanaging wetlands can make disasters worse.

Speaking at the occasion the Guest of Honour, Provincial Affairs Minister for Harare Metropolitan Province Cde. Miriam Chikukwa echoed the pivotal and crucial role played by wetlands in our daily lives. The Minister highlighted a number of threats on wetlands such as the pollution, illegal logging and encroachment from construction projects. She also encouraged the people of Harare and the nation at large to take care of the Wetlands in ensuring environmental sustainability. This year’s theme, “Wetlands for disaster reduction” has proved to be a mettle as evidenced by floods that rocked Harare’s Borrowdale Suburb, Tsholotsho, Masvingo and Kuwadzana among other areas that left people homeless as well as loss of valuable property and life.

School children at Mukuvisi Woodlands

Many schools from the greater Harare area gathered at Mukuvisi Woodlands in celebration of the World Wetlands Day with some of their School Environmental clubs exhibiting their environmental projects and activities. 600 children and youths attended the event. High Schools present included Mabvuku-Tafara, Highfield 2, Budiriro, Mabelreign Girls, Oriel Boys, Maranatha Christian, ZRP, Glenorah 2, Kuwadzana 2, Mufakose 2, Vimbai, Zengeza 2, Allan Wilson, Dudley, Zengeza 1, Marikopo, and Glenview 1. Primary schools present included Chivhu, Moffat, Houghton, Kuwadzana 1, Kushinga, Chiremba, Highlands, Louis Mountbatten, Glenview 1, Avondale, Chizungu and Maromo. A great number of these schools are engaging in different activities to become more environmentally sustainable including: Tree Planting, Clean Ups, Wetlands restoration, and Environmental Education and Awareness among other things. A key highlight of the day was the Environmental quiz challenge for school clubs courtesy of Mukuvisi Woodlands and partners with winners walking away with various prizes. Some key take home messages were also shared including how can we help protect our wetlands?

PHOTO: ROSIE MITCHELL, 2017

As the world grapples with the impact of a changing climate, Zimbabwe is well positioned to make a difference on a local scale by protecting our wetlands. Zimbabwe now has seven Ramsar sites – wetlands of international importance, acknowledged as such under the 1971 Ramsar Convention, a move that demonstrates the southern African country’s commitment to promote wetlands conservation and sustainable development worldwide. These Ramsar sites include: the Monavale Vlei, Cleveland Dam, Mana Pools, Lake Chivero, Driefontein Grasslands, Chinhoyi Caves and the Victoria Falls National Park. These wetlands are among over 2,200 recognised Ramsar sites around the world. This year Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world to mark the World Wetlands Day on February 2nd under the theme which was dubbed, “Wetlands for disaster reduction”.

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YO U T H F ORU M S For communities this may involve adopting practices that ensure long- term sustainability of the local wetlands for everyone with measures such as controlling illegal fishing and dumping, setting catch limits and clearing rubbish from wetlands thus unblocking streams and rivers.

For policy-makers this may entail local government including wetlands in their strategy for coping with disasters.

Additional measures key for all in protecting our wetlands:

Accelerating Youth Participation and Involvement in National and International Development Processes through Youth Forums

Designate wetlands in flood- and storm-prone zones as protected areas.

Restore degraded wetlands that act as protective barriers.

Work with local stakeholders and civil society to promote sustainable agriculture, fisheries and tourism.

Adopt cross sectoral policies especially in agriculture and water to help protect wetlands.

Wetlands clean-ups.

Become a Wetland Ambassador and or advocate for wetlands like WWF. Use water more sparingly and avoid toxic products that drain into wetlands.

Participate in actions to conserve and restore wetlands.

Children should know about wetlands as they are the ones who are being affected the most by the effects of degraded wetlands and related environmental disasters. If we do not care about our wetlands this may result in flooding, loss of lives, outbreak of typhoid, diarrhoea, cholera caused by drinking dirty water. UNICEF is concerned about capacitating children with adequate knowledge, information and education on the roles played by Wetlands in curbing these environmental risks and disasters. Without any equivocation, it is important to engage children on issues pertaining wetlands in ensuring environmental sustainability and at the same time saving the children as well.

Children and youths are very passionate about their environment, evidenced by the activities they are carrying out in their respective schools and communities which are promoting environmental sustainability. The children and youth engaged fully with the world wetlands day and demonstrated their understanding through animated drama, poetry, plays and dance. Children have a voice, and a right to use it and as UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do- we advocate that they too shall have an opportunity to understand and to voice these key issues regarding sustainable environmental management.

By empowering young people to push the boundaries of the possible and unleash their potential, we are enabling them to create a future they want.

Darlington Tshuma on the ECOSOC Panel

While young people across the world are a diverse group, we’re all bound by the common understanding that we’re an underrepresented group in decision and policy making processes.

By Darlington Tshuma,

H

Blog for VOY

onestly, I could not hide my excitement when I received an email from UNICEF Zimbabwe, asking if I would be interested in participating and representing young Zimbabweans at ECOSOC Global Youth Forum in New York. The excitement stemmed from the fact that for the first time in my life, I would carry the hopes and aspirations of millions of young Zimbabweans. The forum would present an opportunity to talk about pertinent and real time issues affecting young people in my country. Running under the theme, ‘The role of youth in poverty eradication and promoting prosperity in a changing world”, the conference sought to promote innovative approaches and initiatives for advancing the youth development agenda at national, regional and global level with a view to promoting global (multilateral) solutions to the global challenge of “shared prosperity”.

The energy that filled the Trustee Chambers on the first day of the conference was a clear indication that world leaders and development partners are sincere about the need to involve youths in efforts to end global poverty and give young people space to chart their own development path. Young people passionately expressed the need to be involved in decision making and appealed to governments and the private sector to support innovations by young people aimed at addressing global challenges such as climate change and poverty.

As representatives of our respective organisations, we were all bound by the common understanding that young people are seldom recognised as a resource and are systematically excluded from important arenas of decision making and development processes. The message was clear; we wanted full involvement and participation of young people in all facets of life. Youth exclusion from development processes usually means that their perspectives are often absent in policy making. Even more worrisome is that many youth organisations remain drastically under-resourced and ill equipped to participate in development processes which ultimately affects their full participation.

If there are hopes of achieving global development goals there is need for a youth perspective which places young people at the centre of all development processes for the full realisation of the SDGs under 2030 Agenda1.

Statistics show that more than 500 million young people lived in poverty as of 2009 - this number has probably increased as a result of global financial challenges and globalisation.

It is common knowledge that development objectives will not be met if young people are not involved in decision making and governance processes 2 . Involving young people is a matter of urgency, since over 60 percent of Africa’s population is 35 years and below3. The number of people worldwide aged 12-24 has reached 1.6 billion- the largest 2

1 http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals.

2 http://orgs.tigweb.org/national-council-of-swedish-youth-organisations-lsu.

3 http://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/may2013/africa’s-youth-“ticking-time-bomb

in history . I am convinced that young people across the world today are also the healthiest and best educated - a strong base to build on in a world that demands more than basic skills. The ‘Youth Perspective’ in poverty reduction is premised on the belief that young people are not merely a target group but initiators, innovators, participants, d e c i s i o n - m a ke r s a n d l e a d e r s .

Eliminating poverty requires that young people are recognised as a resource for change in society. A ‘youth perspective’ in development efforts imply that young people and emerging leaders need to be strengthened and given more space for participation, involvement, influence and power. In that regard, organisations and forums that give young people influence must originate from the perspectives and real needs of young people.

4

In conclusion, having highlighted the issues above, I wish to commend the United Nations through ECOSOC for providing opportunities for young people to talk about issues affecting their communities. Going forward, there is need to build on these efforts to accelerate and intensify youth involvement in decision making and governance processes in line with the UN declaration of Leaving No One Behind.

4 http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications.

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B I OD I V E R S I T Y

Promoting Zimbabwe’s underutilised superfoods; improving rural livelihoods

We live in a world with huge diversity! There are nearly 300,000 different edible plant species alone. Despite this, 80% of our calorific intake is derived from less than 20 species. This is sad, but it also presents huge opportunities in terms of rediscovering some of the underutilised, neglected species. At Bio-Innovation Zimbabwe (BIZ), we research, develop and promote underutilised species -mostly indigenous and often wild harvested- as new crops for smallholders.

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e choose to improve demand for indigenous plants for several important reasons: They widen the food basket, strengthening food security and enhancing people’s daily nutritional intake. They can readily be converted to either food or cash, giving smallholder households greater flexibility in deciding how to cope with shocks and stresses. They complement conventional food crops. Many of these species produce harvestable produce at different seasonal times to conventional food crops, carrying people through the lean periods. This also means their production does not interfere with that of other crops. They are drought tolerant, locally evolved and adapted, and culturally familiar. They favour women and young people. They promote good landscape management. A focus on wild products has huge benefits from the point of view of soil and water conservation, allowing for better management of those resources in situ than land conversion to monoculture. They create multiple opportunities for local value adding.

Pervaded with charm, superstition and legend wherever it grows, the Baobab (Adansonia digitata, locally known as muuyu or umkhomo) is Zimbabwe’s

By Tracy Mapfumo Bio-Innovation Zimbabwe (BIZ) From the seeds, a rich, golden-yellow oil is cold pressed. The oil is rich in omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids. These fatty acids make the oil an excellent moisturiser; it is absorbed quickly into the skin, without clogging pores. The oil is good for skin conditions such as eczema, sun burn and sun spots, it prevents premature ageing and reduces visibility of stretch marks. The oil can also be used as a hair conditioner.

most iconic underutilised species.

Remarkable for its ability to survive in the harshest and driest of climates, the baobab is a familiar sight in many parts of Zimbabwe.

Although the fruits have traditionally been consumed for as long as humans have existed in Africa, scientists have only recently woken up to their unique nutritional properties. The fruit powder is internationally acclaimed as a superfood. Not only is it exceptionally rich

in fibre, vitamins and minerals (vitamin C, potassium, magnesium and calcium), it also has phenomenal antioxidant properties.

Baobab fruit powder is great as an energy source, for digestion, for enhancement of the immune system, and for skin health. It also helps to regulate blood sugar levels. The tasty, tangy powder can be consumed by adding a few spoonfuls of the powder to water, milk, smoothies, cereal or porridge, stews and yoghurt.

BIZ facilitated the first baobab fruit sales from small-scale farmers in Chimanimani and Chipinge in 2012. A group of collectors were trained in the sustainable harvesting of baobab fruit, processing (cracking of the fruits and removing pulp and seed) and quality management. Since then, the baobab harvest has grown significantly, with harvesting extending into other districts in the north-east (Mount Darwin, Rushinga, Mudzi and UMP) and northwest (Binga and Hwange) and southern parts (Beitbridge) of the country. The positive impacts on rural communities from the harvest and sale of baobab fruit have been substantial. Most of the income earned accrues to women, and is used to help finance household

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B I OD I V E R S I T Y expenditure. At the same time, the valorisation of baobab fruit has caused rural people to look differently at their resource. Rural communities now take active steps to conserve and sustainably manage their baobab trees.

In addition to baobab, BIZ also works on another of Zimbabwe’s superfoods: grain amaranth, locally called mowa, bonongwe or imbuya. Many of us call it a weed. We know it for its edible leaves that come in a variety of colours ranging from purple, red, green or gold. In many other parts of the world, amaranth is best known for its edible grain seeds.

Amaranth is a “pseudo-grain” like quinoa but is listed with other grains because its nutritional profile and uses are similar to “true” cereal grains.

Amaranth grain is gluten-free and contains more protein, calcium, iron, fibre, and magnesium than most other cereal grains. In fact, amaranth is considered a “complete protein” because it contains all 9 essential amino acids (including lysine) necessary for the dietary needs of humans, which is often not the case in grains. Moreover, it is the only grain containing vitamin C. The leaves contain added values of calcium and phosphorus. Regular consumption helps in easing digestion and weight management. The iron and dietary fibre make grains and leaves good for anaemic patients and reduce cholesterol.

The seeds have a nutty, or peppery, crunchy texture and flavour. They can be cooked as a healthy porridge or starch alternative, added as a thickener to sauces, soups, and stews, or ground into flour and used to prepare porridge, pizza, pancakes, added to maize meal or combined with other flours (as it has no gluten) for baking. Amaranth pops like popcorn and the popped seeds can be sprinkled on yoghurt, vegetables and salads or incorporated in cereal bars. Young amaranth leaves make tasty salad material. Older greens are wonderful steamed, stirfried or incorporated into curries and casseroles.

Grain amaranth has been cultivated by smallholders in Mutoko and Mudzi since 2013. It is a drought-resistant, economically-sound, nutritious crop, a healthy food source with the potential to help rural families raise extra income, as Lumia testifies. Lumia is a 36-year-old single mother of 5. She has known amaranth since she was a little

UPCOMING EVENTS WEEKLY PRESENCE AT THE WEDNESDAY MAASDORP FARMERS’ MARKET AND FRIDAY AMANZI FOOD MARKET EVERY WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY

5TH TRADITIONAL AND ORGANIC FOOD AND SEED FESTIVAL, SEP-OCT 2017 (EXACT DATES TBA) HARARE BOTANICAL GARDENS

girl when her mother occasionally sent her to pick its leaves for relish. When the “weed” was introduced as an income generator by BIZ in her area, Lumia grabbed the opportunity and dedicated half of her land to the crop. She used the money made from sales to buy bricks and build a better house for her growing children. She also bought a small manual

pump to draw underground water to water her garden. During the dry season, Lumia sells vegetables to community members.

If the endless potential of these local superfoods has inspired you to give them a chance in your own kitchen, you may want to start with one of our great recipes. For more information (also on other underutilised

species BIZ works on) and recipes, check www.bio-innovation.org and www. facebook.com/naturallyzimbabwean, and visit us at our offices (20 Garlands Ride, Mt Pleasant) or Maasdorp and Amanzi markets.

2nd publication from the Traditional and Organic Food and Seed Festival – A Tribute to Zimbabwe’s Legumes!

In celebration of 2016 as the UN Year of Pulses, the Zimbabwe Traditional and Organic Food Forum has produced a booklet entitled A Tribute to Zimbabwe’s Legumes. This wonderfully illustrated, user-friendly guide covers the health and nutritional benefits of Zimbabwe’s favourite legumes and pulses; their contribution to food security, their benefits to agriculture and the environment. Although highly nutritious, legumes are increasingly neglected as a food. Many complain that they taste bland, take a long time to cook and cause bloating and gas! The legume booklet has a section on better ways to cook and eat legumes and includes some delicious recipes. The book is selling at only $3 so get yours before stocks run out!

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WETLANDS

Report on Harare’s World Wetland Day Celebrations 10 February 2017

By Leslee Maasdorp,

Papers by Dr. Mercy Manyuchi (Pr. Eng) Harare Institute Of Technology, Chemical And Process Systems Engineering, Faculty Member @MercyManyuchi

Why we need to keep the fossil fuel and tobacco industries accountable and make them pay for damages The fossil fuel industries generates huge amounts 01 of carbon dioxide to the environment during energy generation, increasing the greenhouse effects on the environment on a daily basis. This effectively results in negative climate change effects yet it’s the ordinary person who is paying for it-the fossil fuel industry must own up and pay the damages. “ndividuals, climate change activists and policy matters must come up during COP22 in Morocco, and ensure this is done

Treatment of Piggery Wastewater Using a 3-Stage Vermifiltration Process Utilizing Eisenia Fetida Earthworms (M. M. Manyuchi and N. L. Mupoperi)

This paper focuses on an alternative biological method for piggery wastewater treatment using the modified single stage vermifiltration process. A 3-stage vermifiltration process was used for piggery wastewater treatment as an alternative and modified biological wastewater treatment technique. Three vermifilters with media which comprised of Eisenia Fetida earthworms, garden soil, sand and quartz stones were used as the filtration media.

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Brewery Wastewater Treatment Using The Biofilm Carriers’ Technology (M. M. Manyuchi and N. Chikwama)

The brewery industry is one of the major industries in Zimbabwe and the following study was conducted to assess the techno-economic feasibility of reuse of wastewater after treatment using the biofilm that forms on the biocarriers. The malting plant of a certain brewing plant uses up to 350000 cubic meters water a year discharging about 75% of the biologically contaminated water as effluent which is discharged into the ecosystem.

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Read More Papers by Dr. Mercy Manyuchi are available online and you can get updates when she publishes new papers at https://hit-ac.academia. edu/MercyManyuchi

Education representative for BirdLife Zimbabwe,

Zambezi Society and Rifa Education Camp Project

This report chiefly focuses on the benefits gained by schools attending this event. 850 pupils plus teachers and drivers representing over 50 schools attended the event which had an impressive turnout.

Many were treated to a light lunch provided by UNICEF. Events that had educational benefits for schools A group of pupils (mostly senior) went on a walk in the grasslands – pity it was not a fully blown urban grassy wetland.

Simon Pitt, the Chairman of Mukuvisi Woodlands led the 12 junior and senior schools groups, who were given an inspiring wetland talk, interspersed with questions from Jimmy Muropa ( JM), the Monavale Vlei Scout. Later on, Professor Chris Magadza gave a talk on wetlands.

EMA gave out their pamphlets to each school and they were eagerly grabbed.

A quiz competition of mainly live animals was arranged by Mrs D Wakeling (DW) and JM (COSMO), Ms J Pierini ( JP) and Mrs L Maasdorp (LM) from BLZ, Rifa and Zambezi Society) This activity was designed to show off a few animals that live hidden away in the lovely grassland of Monavale Vlei and to gauge the pupils’ knowledge of them. (A wetland such as this has astonishingly rich biodiversity).

500 pupils participated (the number of questionnaires all we could afford to print) Small prizes were awarded, JM and Ronnie Chirimuta, Marlborough Vlei Scout, vetted the answers and students on attachment from the City of Harare, helped as well. LM and DW went through all the answers. High schools as to be expected produced the better answers. Many Primary pupils found it difficult but were interested – remarks “This snail is moving, but how can it, with no legs?”

One of the participating schools

The five exhibits were:

Snails: (live) collected by JM and LM Crab, Freshwater: (live) collected with difficulty by JM

Frogs: (live) collected with some difficulty by JM

Wildlife at Mukuvisi Woodlands

Heron, Black-headed: mounted at the Museum and collected by DW and returned

by JP

Marsh Owl: (live) collected by JP from Kuimba Shiri. This bird was kindly loaned for the occasion

Bushpig: (no specimen) a question on this animal was included.

Each competitor had a brief viewing of these animals. There was some collaboration within schools, as to be expected.

a better chance of seeing them when so many pupils are involved.

2. Time should be allocated at the end to give students a brief description of the exhibits.

3. In the future enough question papers should be printed

Lessons learnt by the organizers

4. 8 live exhibits would provide more of a challenge not only for pupils but also for teachers, who learn so much from this exposure

1. Each animal display should have more space and be duplicated to give scholars

5. The curricula had recently had many more topics included but nothing extra on

Nature, for the already overloaded primary school teachers. Our very future on the planet depends on us working closely with the natural environment, hence contact with Nature on the Wetlands Day is very important for stimulating interest in Nature for children. On a previous Wetland Day, there was a live snake exhibition where two pupils remarked, ‘I touched a live snake”. This vibrant atmosphere at the Woodlands was visible this year as well with the crowd enjoying themselves.

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I N N OVAT I ON

Young Innovator gets a life line from GiHub and Declares war on waste Tinashe Manyonga, Unique Innovations

Zimbabwe faces a huge challenge in terms of waste management. The economic challenges being faced have made it difficult for those mandated to spearhead the waste management to effectively perform. Financial constraints at all major councils have led to the accumulation of litter in all towns and cities.

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reat things happen when ideas meet passion. Tinashe Manyonga is a 29 year old social entrepreneur who studied for a Degree in Crop Science with the University of Zimbabwe before taking a keen interest in waste management and recycling. Having drawn inspiration from his aunt who had learnt of the Hot Box concept, Tinashe saw tremendous opportunity in this and at once fell in love with the concept. This led him to start a company that designs and manufactures non electric thermal bags made using household waste.

The TEMP BAG initiative is all about turning waste into useful products. The first TEMP BAG design was registered in 2013 and the bag was taken to Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) the standards regulatory body in Zimbabwe.

The company now is able to successfully recycle six different types of waste which include expandable polystyrene, extruded polystyrene, corrugated cardboard, plastics, mealie meal sacks, 500ml PET bottles, 2 litre PET bottles.

to turn waste into a currency. Each waste material has a price value attached to it which we are willing to pay for to the collecors.

Now a two time Award winner having won the first award in 2013 at the Global Enteprenuership Week for the BEST

Recyclable Waste Recyclable Waste Material

Product

Green impact of the product

Expandable Polystyrene

COWACO & Supercooler

Energy conservation

Extruded Polystyrene

Supercooler

Energy conservation

Corrugated cardboard

Supercooler

Energy conservation

Plastic

Supercooler

Mealy Meal Sacks

Car Bin

PET bottles

Ottoman stool

500 ml PET Bottle

Litter Bins

We work with schools to collect the waste and youths to collect waste on behalf of us and we in turn give school team cooler bags and related eco friendly furniture for the schools sports teams.

Our plan is to work with the community which has benefited by providing us with waste and getting our products at discounted rates. We hope that this will encourage each and every household to divert targeted household waste products from their dustbins. Imagine the environmental impact if we can get only a hundred thousand households to divert an average 3 two litre Mazowe bottles that’s an amazing 1 200 000 PET bottles diverted per month and 28 million plastic bread paper.

We have declared war on waste and this is a battle we going to win because of the strategy we have chosen which is simply

Proper waste disposal Waste management

CREATIVE category then the GiHUB award in 2016.

Having won a Green Innovations Hub, Smart Energy Innovations Challenge Award in June 2016 really rejuvenated our spirits. We where able to regain confidence in the venture we where struggling to upscale. Currently we are supplying 20 retail outlets around Harare and a few in outside towns. The size of our market will determine the quantity of waste we are able to recycle monthly.

Recycling start up takes war on polystyrene pollution to the next level Unique Innovations, trading as TEMP BAG has recently signed a deal to recycle all of the polystyrene float tray waste with leading Zimbabwean Tobacco seedling producer in, Kutsaga Seeds. The partnership will see Unique Innovations solving a problem that has troubled the tobacco seedling giant for the past decade. Float tray seedling production is a modern technique used in the tobacco industry but it however poses a serious environmental threat when the float trays break into pieces after some time and have to be disposed of.

There is no environmentally friendly way to dispose of polystyrene waste . This is why Zimbabwean authorities are mulling a ban on the petroleum-based plastic which is non biodegradable and takes over a century to decay.

Unique Innovations will recycle float tray waste into insulation for TEMP BAG products and in turn, Kutsaga Seeds will market and distribute TEMP BAG products to its market which are mostly farmers. This will positively affect most of the farmers daily lives given the immense benefits that the TEMP BAG products in energy conservation, improved nutrition, reduced risk of child burns and rate of respiratory disease amongst others.

This partnership is a great step forward for the recycling start up which has been mostly focusing on processing household waste but is now venturing into processing of industrial waste. The waste includes 2 liter PET bottles, plastic bread paper, mealie meal sacks, card board and polystyrene.

Learn more about the Unique and Amazing TEMP BAG products and find out how they can help you lower your carbon footprint by visiting our Facebook page : TEMP BAG.

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R E N E WA B L E E N E RGY

Zimbabwean Youth engaging on Climate and Sustainable Energy through U-Report

By Amy Wickham UNICEF Zimbabwe

Over the past three years, the UNICEF Zimbabwe Country Office has been involved in various Climate change and Sustainable Energy programmes. Some of which include: operational researches on Climate Change and Children in Zimbabwe 1 and Sustainable Energy for Children in Zimbabwe2; The Voices of Youth Climate Mapping Activity 3 ; The Clean Energy Eco Schools Programme4; Improved Cook stove programming 5 and the Green Innovations Hub 6 as well as the engagement and support with National Policy Dialogue. What has been clear throughout all of these activities has been that the youth have significant understanding of the challenges being faced regarding climate change and lacking energy access, and they have exceptional ideas regarding how best to tackle these challenges.

UNICEF, as the only UN agency whose legal mandate is to globally advocate for children, is world-renowned as a leading technical agency championing children’s rights. Such advocacy means ensuring that children and youth have an opportunity to understand and to voice what they believe are the most significant challenges in their communities, and to help shape and develop a more sustainable future for all. For this reason, the UNICEF Zimbabwe Country office sought to conduct these U-Report polls.

U-Report is a free SMS social monitoring tool for community participation designed to address issues the population cares about.

In Zimbabwe, the U-Report platform has 55,6047 members to date spanning from 15 to 35 years residing across ten provinces of Zimbabwe with the most active provinces including Harare Province, Manicaland, Midlands Province, Mashonaland West and with a gender representation of 57% males; 43% females.

also more susceptible to undernutrition and diarrhoea the risk of which is increasing with climate change. Pollution also has a relatively greater impact on children and their risk of respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, or conditions such as asthma, is likely to be far higher than for adults. Climate change can deny children their rights, and often

exacerbates vulnerability suffered by their families and communities. Recognising that the 2017 Zimbabwe Human Development Report is focused on Climate change, UNICEF sought to conduct a U-Report poll to ensure youth had an opportunity to provide input to this national study.

1 https://www.unicef.org/zimbabwe/media_15176. html 2 https://www.unicef.org/zimbabwe/resources_19032.html 3 http://climatesummit.unicef-gis.org/ , http://cop21. unicef.fr/ 4 https://www.unicef.org/zimbabwe/resources_18352.html 5 https://blogs.unicef.org/blog/improved-cookstoves-cut-illness-not-trees/ 6 http://www.gih.space/ 7 https://zimbabwe.ureport.in/ 8 UNICEF, 2015 Unless we act now: the impact of climate change on children

1. When asked about whether they felt climate change was the most pressing concern for young people today-63% responded positively.

9 https://zimbabwe.ureport.in/poll/1749/

U-REPORT POLL ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN ZIMBABWE U-Report is a communication tool allowing anyone from any community to respond to polls, report issues, support child rights and work as positive agents of change on behalf of people in their country.

U-REPORT ZIMBABWE has 51,651 members and 9,910 responded to this poll which represents 19% of the views of U-REPORTERS you agree that climate change is one of the you think that Governments need to take Q.1 Would Q.2 Do most pressing concerns for young people today? urgent action against climate change?

Overally 63% agreed

Males 63% agreed

85 % of young people between 15-30 years urged Government to take urgent action against climate change

Females 63% agreed

With 20-24 year old females being the most concerned representing 93%

Thus climate change is of concern to young people.

Q.3 What worries you most about climate change?

Diseases

Climate Change impacts on children Children are disproportionately affected by pollution and climate-sensitive diseases.

Nearly 530 million children live in floodprone zones and nearly 160 million children live in areas of high or extremely high drought severity8. Children’s vulnerability to climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, and diseases associated with poor water quality, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene practices, such as diarrhoeal diseases, is also far higher than adults. Children are

The U-Report Poll on Climate Change in Zimbabwe9 - what the youth said

What social safety nets exist in your communities

combat food insecurity caused by climate Q.4 tochange?

14%

Hunger

47% 25%

Floods Livestock Loss

29%

Disruption of Energy Supply System Learning Being Disrupted

15%

31%

7%

Help from Extended Family Cash Transfers Help from Church

problems are you facing as a result of floods, heat waves, strong winds, Q.5 Which hail storms caused by climate change? Education Related

18%

Food for Work

14%

Destruction of Local Transport Destruction of Homesteads Damage to School Buildings

OTHER SAFETY NETS Humanitarian Aid Illegal Gold Panning

* Hunger disproportionately affects women by 58% as compared to males who record 55 % and it is the major reason that has disrupted the learning process. * School attendance amongst girls has decreased as compared to boys.

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R E N E WA B L E E N E RGY 5. ‘Destruction of homesteads’ was reported by the largest proportion of youth (31%) as the greatest problem being faced as a result of extreme climate events, with other issues such as damage to school buildings, disruption of energy supply system, learning being disrupted and destruction of local transport being 29%, 18%, 15% and 7% respectively.

2. An even greater percentage (85%) thought that Government need to take urgent action against climate change, with 20-24 year old females being the most concerned (93%).

3. What worries young people the most about climate change in Zimbabwe received equal apportioning to each of diseases, hunger, floods and livestock loss.

cooling and ICT. Health centres need energy and electricity to provide proper services at night time. Sustainable energy for children is needed for drilling, pumping, transportation and treatment of safe water. Street lighting is important for children’s safety, especially girls.

Where children’s energy needs are not met, they often depend on unsafe or unsustainable energy which is the main cause of indoor air pollution, contributing to over half a million children under five dying annually10. Girls are primarily responsible for collecting fuel and are at serious risk of sexual violence.

Sustainable Energy Impacts for Children

4. The majority of youth (47%) reported ‘food for work’ as the social safety net existing in their community to combat food insecurity caused by climate change, with others reporting ‘help from extended family’ (25%); ‘Cash transfers’ (14%) and ‘Help from church’ (14%).

Sustainable Energy plays a key role in children’s development and well-being.

Safe lighting is necessary to do homework after dark and heating and cooling to stay comfortable. Children need safe, clean and affordable transport to school. Schools also require energy for lighting, cooking, heating,

Both the concept of intergenerational justice 10 UNICEF, 2015, Why sustainable energy matters to children: The critical importance of sustainable energy for children and future generations

CHILDREN'S ENGAGEMENT IN THE RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY U-REPORT POLL RESULTS U-REPORT ZIMBABWE has 53,652 members and 7,547 responded to this poll which represents 14% of the views of U-REPORTERS

1

Do you think children should be considered and consulted in the process to develop the National Renewable Energy Policy?

Males 88% agreed Females 87% agreed

Overally 88% agreed

3

What actions need to be taken to ensure that the policy upholds and contributes to children‛s rights?

Heightened understanding

12%

Involve children in policy process

future leaders idea/s develop future leaders right life infromation education voice skills health Other

4

23%

41%

Monitor how well policy addresses children

2

24%

Why do you think it‛s important that children are considered?

41% 18% 15% 7% 5% 4% 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 2%

Do you use any form of Renewable Energy on a daily basis?

ALL 76%

More research and data

ALL

Mashonaland Central

Harare Mashonaland East Matabeleland North

Manicaland

Midlands

Bulawayo Masvingo

Matabeleland South

5

13%

ALL

Mashonaland Central

41% 37% 39% 41% 47% 42% 47% 44% 29% 37%

What types of renewable energy sources do you use on a daily basis?

Solar Biogas hydro Wind Wood Electricity Other

7

41%

Harare Bulawayo Manicaland Midlands Mashonaland West Mashonaland Central Mashonaland East Masvingo Matabeleland North Matabeleland South

Mashonaland West

Harare Mashonaland East

Manicaland

Midlands

Bulawayo Masvingo

Matabeleland South

76%

Harare Bulawayo Manicaland Midlands Mashonaland West Mashonaland Central Mashonaland East Masvingo Matabeleland North Matabeleland South

Mashonaland West

Matabeleland North

Females 74%

Males 77%

75% 64% 77% 75% 81% 78% 78% 80% 67% 72%

In your community, what are the reasons stopping people from using renewable energy?

1.Cost? 2.Access? 3.Awareness? 4.Technical expertise? 5.Product Quality? 6.Other

6

61%

12% 6%

6%

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

2% 2%

Cost Access Awareness Technical expertise Product quality Other

What are other reasons stopping people from using renewable energy?

cost don’t want 10% electricity is available 10% danger/fear lack of availability of 10% renewable resources 6% don't know lack of knowledge lack of resource accessibility weather conditions

17% 16%

6%

Mashonaland Central Mashonaland West Harare

13%

Mashonaland East

13% 13%

6%

19%

Matabeleland North Midlands

Manicaland

Bulawayo

Matabeleland South

42%

12%

Masvingo

4%

ALL Harare Bulawayo Manicaland Midlands Mashonaland West Mashonaland Central Mashonaland East Masvingo Matabeleland North Matabeleland South

44% 46% 41% 46% 40% 40% 40% 44% 47% 54% 50%

as well as child rights recognize the concern for future generations and acknowledge their valuable contributions and hence call for the inclusion of children in decisionmaking processes. As Zimbabwe is currently developing its national Renewable Energy Policy, UNICEF through its ongoing policy dialogue in this process sought to consult with youth nationally so as to understand their views with regard to the Renewable Energy Policy development in order to ensure that the policy incorporates the voices of children, and also addresses the specific vulnerabilities of women and children within.

U-Report Poll on Children’s’ Engagement in the Renewable Energy Policy11- what the youth said?

Overall, 88% of youth agreed that it’s important to have children integrated into the National Renewable Energy Policy process.

On being asked why, the majority of youth quoted reasons such as: their future (41%), them as leaders (18%), them having ideas (15%), and their development (7%).

The greatest action needed to be taken to ensure that the policy upholds and contributes to children’s rights was reported as ‘involve children in the policy process’ with other results such as ‘heightened understanding’, ‘monitoring how well policy addresses children’, and ‘more research and data’ obtaining results of 24%, 23% and 12% respectively.

76% of reporters noted they use some form of renewable energy daily, with the largest percentages recorded in Mashonaland west and Masvingo, and the lowest percentages recorded in Bulawayo and Matabeleland North.

With a 61% response- Solar energy was the type most commonly used, while biogas and hydro followed with 13% and 12% recording its’ usage daily. Wind, wood, electricity and other recorded lower reporting rates of usage including 6%, 6%, 2% and 2%.

Cost, Access and Awareness were quoted as the 3 largest reasons stopping people from using Renewable Energy at 42%, 17% and 16% while technical expertise, product quality and other received less reported at 12%, 6% and 4%.

Cost, lack of desire, availability of electricity and fear were the greatest ‘other’ reasons recorded for stopping people from using renewable energy, while lack of knowledge, lack of resource accessibility and weather conditions recorded smaller reports at 10%, 6% and 6%.

It is clear that children and youth have a powerful voice- and as future inhibitors of this earth, have an important role to play by using it, and as UNICEF continues to engage with children and youth through such national consultative processes, we would like to acknowledge and appreciate the voices of these 54,000+ youth nationally for engaging in U-report- without whom these findings would not have been possible.

To join U-Reporttext “JOIN” to 33500. It’s FREE across all networks.

11 https://zimbabwe.ureport.in/poll/1775/

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E N E RGY

The Green Energy

By Nevison Mpofu

Long time back in ancient days, Economic Analyst and Demographer Thomas Malthus of Britain eye opened into future séance that came to touch ground of the 21st century. Thomas talked of an overpopulated World of 6 billion people that would not carry the number befitting existing resources.

W

e are facing new Technological threshold in Energy to phase out antique Energy Technologies which have created for us emission output which have had impacts on human lives and the natural environment from which Energy sources are embedded.

The important figure when talking about Solar Power is Albert Einstein, a Germany by birth, born in 14 March 1879.Albert Einstein discovered Solar Power at the age of 26.

It sounds interesting to me when I focus on a development case of Energy discovered 137 years ago.We talk of its height in Africa today yet others have gone long way. One area so much of current interest is that of Diesel 50 and Solar powered vehicles.

Around the World, use of Diesel 500 is condemned .However we need to grapple with challenges , take up the idea of changing times and consummate modern applicable standards.

Diesel 50 is the most recommended one at a time solar powered vehicles take a knock in a move to match Technology.This makes us move towards Green Energy and a Health Environment .The Development is in line with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change of 1994 which seek to aim at the reduction of green- house gas concentrations in the Atmosphere. These green- house gases are mainly carbon –dioxide, sulphur dioxide and black carbon.

Under the Montreal Protocol 1989 , World Leaders managed to hold a conference in Canada which came out with results of some ozone depleting substances like chloroflour o- carbons and methane bromide getting phased out. These massively contributed to the depletion of ozone layer, a consequential negative scenario which leads to Global Warming which then cause Climate Change and cascades to reality on the ground of El-nina and La-nina warm and cool currents from the Pacific Ocean.

Vehicles using Diesel 500 are contributing massively to depletion of the ozone layer which when vehemently affected develops a hole by which through it , ultra-violet radiation heat up the earth and then infrared gets back into the atmosphere.Gases like carbon dioxide , water vapour, methane and nitrous oxide absorb out-bound energy and remit it as heat.That is why they are called Green House Gases .

Diesel 50 according to Energy Experts like Gloria Magombo Chief Executive of ZERA, is efficient and friendly to use since many vehicles are fitted with emission

control devices such as Diesel Particulate Filters that require use of Diesel 50.These vehicles include the New MAZDA B 50 RANGE, 6th Generation ISUZU models, New HYUNDAI Santef and Gray Imports of TOYOTA vehicles. Many developed countries like USA follow Global Trend of Technology by using Diesel 50.

Experts working on Energy projects in Zimbabwe are trotting step further up from Diesel 50 to match Modern Technology of the use of the most friendly Fuel that is Diesel 10 which will work with Solar Powered vehicles.However it is time for SADC countries to support Regional Intergration in Policy change for new Technology so as to grapple with challenges , draw solution lines to create a smart Environment. It is vital to link Energy projects and Environment , developing International standards which fits in the SADC context of Technological developments to foster Economic Growth.

The consumption of Diesel 50 has increased from 1,7 million litres in 2015 to about 4 million in 2016. It means then the number of companies is increasing as well. This creates employment and reduce poverty , increase Gross Domestic Product and moves towards Sustainable Development Goals.

Why would we as a Region take interventions to invest in such initiatives ? Firstly , Africa has had drawbacks in Technology as some countries kept updated . Yes , we might not have the knowledge to manufacture at International standards but we have resources needed to come up with a final product. Should we remain a dumping ground of the west at the net expense of our children’s future?.

The bigger number of those energy vulnerable and absolute poor are drawn

from Africa. By solving energy issues and cleaning the Environment , World countries are scoring on Sustainable Development Goals related to Energy ,Economic and Environmental Development.

To bring ourselves on the acme of motorization , it starts with our concerted effort in making use of solar powered vehicles.

We rightly move towards clean climate since we will be in a position to completely phase out all gases that contribute to ozone l ayer depletion.

Air Pollution won’t be a threat. Countries will be in a strong position to fight Cardiovascular infections like Tuberculosis and pneumonia which affect the Lung.

Air Pollution is the circulation of toxic substances in air like those fumed out by Diesel 500. According to World Health Organisation , Air Pollution has killed 3,7 million people around the World.This has prompted 1st world countries to push for the use of Diesel 50. As the World moves towards fast motorization with the use of Diesel 50 ,we have less Health problems.

Experts in the Motor Industry states that the total number of cars on the roads has risen to 2 billion and by 2030 the figure may rise to 3 billion depending on high motorization growth rate and Gross Domestic Product per capita.

Clean Energy development is by no doubt the way forward . Community Development projects to support this Global goal initiative to win on some Sustainable Development Goals focus on Community Empowerment , involvement ,participation and Community funding on Energy infrastructure.

Nevson Mpofu is a Community Development, HIV and AIDS and Project Management Lecturer based @ a local College in Harare.

Contact him on email nmnevsonmpofu755@gmail.com.

KB KBMpofu Mpofu FREELANCE FREELANCEPHOTOGRAPHER PHOTOGRAPHER

+263 +26399883 883696 696 +263 +2637171660 6605615 5615 Kb@kbmpofu.com Kb@kbmpofu.com www.kbmpofu.com www.kbmpofu.com

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Q1 I s s u e 0 5 / 1 7 15

URBAN PLANNING

Building Sustainable Urban Places Should be the New Urban Planning Agenda

By Mashoko S. Grey

The building of sustainable urban places has been catered for by the Sustainable Cities Programme under the auspices of the UN Habitat after the Earth Summit in 1992. It came into recognition because of urbanisation and that current cities are leaving behind a huge ecological footprint hence the need for new planning agenda. But we are still way off the sustainable cities mark.

T

he goal for sustainable cities is to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable” . It reflects growing recognition that human development depends on how well urbanisation is managed. This new agenda is to address the issues that could not be addressed by the traditional master planning approach, which mainly concentrated on infrastructure and their physical appearance of cities leaving behind, the crucial elements of reducing the ecological footprint of urban activities.

Therefore, if there is a continuance in the traditional master planning to address current urban problems, it is not only inappropriate but it will exacerbate these problems which include growth of slums, improper disposal of waste, inadequate housing and increase in urban poverty.

These are complex, rapidly changing and dynamic problems which needs to be addressed by a new urban planning approach especially in the 21st century.

1

The current city planning approaches are resulting in increased and intensified urban environmental problems and socio-spatial marginalisation. This was mainly because this approach to planning was top-down, technocratic, bureaucratic and is done by ‘technical experts’ and Zimbabwe largely by politicians with the exclusion of other stakeholders or the beneficiaries of the planned cities. These “plans” have not passed through any elected body and often reflect a high modernist vision that justifies large infrastructure projects and excludes attention to citizen priorities . For example; in Zimbabwe in 2013 the ruling party during its campaigns cancelled all debts that were owed to the local authority 2

1 http://css.escwa.org.lb/SDPD/3572/Goal11.pdf 2 http://theconversation.com/how-africa-can-buildinclusive-safe-and-sustainable-cities-48445

without ZANU PF making any payment to the local authority. This made it difficult for the local authority to deliver on their services without revenue. Furthermore, this had been intensified by political feuds between the local authority and the parent Ministry, corruption and poor governance within the local authority and lack of adequate funding to implement planning programmes. As a result, this gave prominence to urban problems in Harare like: emergence of settlements in hazard prone areas (wetlands); occupation of areas that were initially left as breathers for residential areas; failure in the collection and disposal of solid and liquid waste and inadequate supply of treated water to residents. Besides, the majority of countries face water scarcity, a challenge that has been exacerbated by climate change. Yet, little has been done to avert this challenge except water rationing which also exacerbate water borne diseases like typhoid and cholera.

Overall, the central problem to unlocking equitable opportunities in African cities remains politics. In today’s competitive multi-party environment, leaders make political calculations that privilege shortterm horizons to win votes over long-term solutions to urban problems. Most critical, many urban planning problems are the result of power struggles and, in particular, the capture of “public goods” such as land or transit routes for certain interests .

3

An example of good practices in the past with specific regards to housing delivery in cities in Zimbabwe, was through the local authority, which would service the residential stands and then allocate beneficiaries to build. Of interest was the fact that, this servicing would 3 http://theconversation.com/how-africa-can-build-inclusive-safe-and-sustainable-cities-48445

layout a plan and allow for the provisioning of their services and most importantly setting aside land for green spaces, breathers and land which was not suitable for construction (wetlands). However, in Harare (Zimbabwe), the extensive growth of ‘slum’ settlements has been a product of the parceling out of residential land by the ruling party without involvement and consultation of city planning. These unplanned settlements therefore give little regard to sustainable cities principles. This paves way for urban environmental problems that includes inadequate water supply and sewer connection, and this only provides a platform for future disasters. This is happening at a time when urban planners are calling for urban greening and this undermines the achievement of a sustainable city.

As a result of the emergence of slum settlements in Zimbabwean cities, treatment and disposal of solid and liquid waste remains a major challenge not only for the residents but for the local authority. One key fact for these unplanned areas is that, they cannot be serviced by the local authority since they do not make any payments to the local authority.

This has seen many residents in these areas build blair toilets and water sources (well or boreholes) within their residential stands of 150-300 m2, giving rising to the risk of water contamination and water-borne diseases as has been the case with typhoid cases since end of 2016. Therefore, the local authority cannot waste its limited resources to service residence who are not making payments to them at the expense of other planned sections of the city. Yet, problems arising from improper treatment and disposal solid and liquid waste will not only affect planned settlements and planned settlements as well.

Contributing Partners We would like to invite organisations, government agencies and individuals working on various SDG based initiatives to join us in documenting these projects in Zimbabwe. A special thanks to Tafadzwa Tarumbwa for tirelessly creating our stunning cartoons which raise awareness for various issues. Contact him for animations, cartoons or book illustrations on +263 77 299 8187 or tafadzwa2d@gmail. com. 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.

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In this system of urban planning all stakeholders need to be involved in the decision making process (participatory and inclusive), with solving urban environmental problems at the core.

For example, there is consultation of stakeholders in compiling an environmental profile for a city, which provides all data as to the resource, severity of the environmental p ro bl e m s a n d a n e nv i ro n m e nt a l management information system.

With the use of the new urban planning agenda, there need for a shift from government to governance, decentralization and democratization of the urban planning system so as to address the needs of every citizen in a particular locality. The priority on issue governance and decentralization results in the division of big scale urban areas which are difficult to manage, to smaller units which are easy to manage and improve efficiency for service provision. The above mentioned factors of the new urban planning agenda are not the ultimate answer to the urban environmental problems but it presents an effective criterion which could prove to be useful in the solving of these urban problems both in the developed and developing world. But, it is also important that while we think about these approaches, the biggest challenge is politics.

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Building sustainable urban places through the new urban planning agenda should take over the urban planning process in cities. In fact, for it to be a success especially in Zimbabwe, it should be free from the political feuds that hinder development and service delivery. Essentially, the new urban planning agenda should be strategic as there it is based on prioritisation of solving urban environmental problems and these priorities differ with needs and demands of that specific city hence the flexibility.

Tel: 04 338836-44 Email: registry.zw@undp.org Web Address: www.zw.undp.org

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16 Q1 I S S U E 0 5 / 1 7

S USTA I N A B I L I T Y

The economic opportunities that lie within hyacinth at Lake Chivero

The role of forestry and agriculture in mitigating climate change For forestry, some linkages are explicit, such as SDG 15 concerning the sustainable management of forests, which relates to Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+); and SDG 12, covering corporate responsibility, sustainable consumption and production. At CIFOR, we have concluded in our new strategy that forestry links to all 17 SDGs. This way, we emphasise the essential contributions that forests and trees make to all aspects of sustainable development, including the climate change challenge

By Lisa Chiedza Govera

t one time I visited the Lake Chivero to reflect on nature like I always do, and to my surprise I noticed a weed like plant that had spread like a massive spectacular blanket ,close to the edges of the lake. Researching about this particular beautiful hydrophyte plant, I understood how much of a problem it could become if not controlled, and also how much of an economic opportunity it could be if….. harvested and put to use to local communities surrounding Lake Chivero.

[Source: http://www.climateactionprogramme.org]

SOURCE :MISTRA URBAN FUTURES www.mistraurbanfutures.org/en/weed-product

Hyacinth also scientifically known as Eichhornia crassipes, which thrives on most lakes in Africa, One in particular being Lake Chivero.Hyacinth is believed to have come as an alien pot plant in Zimbabwe, as its native origin is Brazil. Despite its beauty poised it is becoming a menace to human economic and social development, because of its broad leaf structure it chokes the lake of fresh air and direct sunlight thereby causing a danger on the lake’s ecosystem, Further more it causes a decline in fish population which becomes a problem for the locals who depend on fish as a food source as well as a means for generating income. It also causes rapid evapotranspiration which can change the water balance of an environment; it also poses as a huddle for recreational activities to take place as it causes obstruction of navigation. Biology has it that it that the plant multiplies rapidly, moving easily with water currents, wind, or other accidental means, such as fishing nets and boats, and thrives in a sewage environment. Despite control measures through mechanical,

CLIMATE CHANGE

Water hyacinth being woven into a basket

physical, biological and chemical ways such processes end up being financially burdensome and pose other problems which are detrimental to human health.

Having noted the cons of Hyacinth’s infestation, I found it a great discovery to note that this very plant though it harbors problematic issues, it also is a blessing in disguise especially in Zimbabwe. For instance in Kenya hyacinth has been put to use by the people of Kisumu Port of the Great Lake Victoria. According to Nancy Mwangi et al., Kisumu people take the stalks of the dried plant to make furniture, coffins,rope, ornaments, buckets. The dried plant is also used for agricultural purposes as fertilizer or animal fodder as it is rich in protein.

This machine is used to make sanitary pads out of water hyacinth by village volunteers an initiative which began in India

SOURCE:KOUW KUO w.org/post/making-sanitary-pads-invasive-plants

A

The Green Snippets

Biogas is also a major product of hyacinth for the people of Kisumu used in place of wood fuel. In Zimbabwe a study was carried out by K.Munjeri et al on the possible use of hyacinth as an alternative energy source in the form of briquettes, Having tested the plant with other leaf species, they concluded that successful commercialization of the briquetted hyacinth would reduce unemployment, deforestation as well as lead to improved environmental standards. According to Jeannie Yandel of KOUW, the founder of Village Volunteer Shana Greene has fostered sustainable solutions of the use of hyacinth as sanitary pads in Kenya as it absorbs water and is biodegradable as well as compostable.

Water hyacinth at Lake Chivero

In conclusion Hyacinth is that one invasive plant that can also be manipulated to foster entrepreneur skills, provide jobs and improve the livelihood of the locals that reside around the lakes that have been invaded by this aquatic plant.

FLOODS

Zimbabwe floods killed 246, made thousands homeless Floods in Zimbabwe have killed 246 people and left nearly 2,000 homeless since December, government officials said.

Saviour Kasukuwere, minister of local government, declared a national disaster and announced the death toll on Thursday, saying 128 people have been injured in the floods. The southern African country has appealed to international donors for $100m to help those affected by the floods, which have washed away several bridges and roads and cut off some communities from surrounding areas.

[Source: http://www.aljazeera.com]

ENERGY

Renewable energy targets already met by 11 EU Members Under the EU 2020 strategy, the region aims to reach a share of 20 per cent energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy. However, Member States have since agreed to further this target to 27 per cent by 2030; demonstrating the key role played by renewables in achieving future EU energy and emission reduction targets. Sweden led the way with more than half (53.9 per cent) of its gross final consumption of energy coming from renewables in 2015, followed by Finland at 39.3 per cent, Latvia at 37.6 per cent and Austria at 33.0 per cent.

[Source: http://www.climateactionprogramme.org]

SUSTAINABLE FARMING

New varieties required to offset climate change effects A COMBINATION of rising temperatures, low and high rainfall patterns associated with climate change, land degradation and socio-economic stressors are likely to heighten the vulnerability of crop production systems in Zimbabwe.

Climate change has had a negative effect on crop production not only in Zimbabwe but worldwide. The El Nino-induced drought experienced last season is an indication of the rapidly changing weather conditions that hamper food production.

Zimbabwe. [Source: http://www.financialgazette.co.zw] CLIMATE CHANGE

Zimbabwe Submits its Climate Action Plan Ahead of 2015 Paris Agreement Bonn, 30 September 2015 – The Republic of Zimbabwe submitted its new climate action plan to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) comes well in advance of a new universal climate change agreement which will be reached at the UN climate conference in Paris, in December this year. [Source: http://newsroom.unfccc.int] WETLANDS

Climate Smart Innovations to Improve Agriculture in Zimbabwe The growing frequency and severity of droughts is increasing food insecurity and accelerating the demand for irrigation at a faster rate than farmers or the government can finance. To counter this, the assistance will also study the new water requirements and advise on appropriate irrigation technologies that are water-efficient and small scale. .

[Source: https://www.worldbank.org]