Author: Raymond Muwaniri

Keeping the Message Alive

Posted by | Dec 18, 2017 | , |

Editorial – Issue 08 In this edition of SustainZim our feature article is by Martha Munyoro Katsi from Practical Action. She discusses ëincreasing food security through solar powered irrigationí. In a project in Gwanda, 6 community gardens were installed with solar powered irrigation systems. The project aimed to benefit 720 residents in the area and ensure food security. Producing crop can now be throughout the year, increasing income and improving livelihoods. Martha has previously contributed to SustainZim and her articles are very popular with the readers. Green Innovation HUB 2 was launched on the 8th of December by the Swedish Embassy and UNICEF Zimbabwe. GI HUB is an incubation space which seeks to unlock potential of young people in contributing to Sustainable Development through initiatives around smart and sustainable energy. GI HUB has 3 components; Green Schools, Green Jobs and Green Innovations. GI HUB 1 was completed in 2017, contestants sent in ideas to UNICEF and those chosen were given funds to make their ideas a reality. GI HUB 1 produced some unique ideas which can be found here;  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stONGxU7D60 . The aim of GI HUB is to tackle climate change and youth unemployment by tapping into their creativity and knowledge for ideas that can be harnessed into sustainable solutions. Youth have the chance to come up with ideas that can be turned into an enterprise to make a...

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Call for Green Partnerships to Reduce our Carbon Footprint

Posted by | Dec 17, 2017 | , |

Editorial – Issue 07 In this edition, we have very interesting articles that go into detail on what the effects of climate change are on a local level and what can be done to counter them. In the first article Ms Prisca Daka from Speak Out For Animals (SOFA) talks about connecting the dots between wildlife, youths and climate change. She mentions that, youths in Zimbabwe are the first generation to feel the effects of climate change therefore they should be involved in the decision-making processes that affect their future. Through working with SOFA, Prisca emphasises how human interests and activities are increasingly counter to the interests of wildlife. There is increasing habitat loss due to human activities and habitat change due to climate change. This leaves the animals to survive in isolated pockets that may never bred with each other, changing their behaviour and threatening to kill the species. In drought situations, animals can no longer migrate as they used to due to loss of their migratory routes to human encroachment. Animals are now being threatened with extinction due to increased droughts brought about by climate change. If the youths want to see animals in their future they need to get involved in combating climate change to save wildlife. It is up to those in government and leadership positions to empower youths to participate in policy making. POVO...

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The Need of Green Economies for Zimbabwe

Posted by | Aug 28, 2017 | , |

SustainZim is now in its 2nd year with this edition being the 6th. We have had such a positive response in terms of content sent in and demand for more copies of the paper, which is proof the paper is reaching out to more people and achieving its goal of; educating Zimbabweans on sustainable development issues and creating a platform for collaborations In this edition of SustainZim, there is particular focus on the ‘Green Economies’ aimed at reducing environmental risks, ecological scarcities and sustainable development. Due to the high unemployment rates in the country there needs to be focus on creating jobs in the green economy as opposed to industrialisation which is responsible for the high carbon emissions into our atmosphere. Developing countries should not follow the way of developed countries in terms of mass industrialisation but rather shift to green economies which are the future. We are now living in the era of technology and energy efficiency, more investment needs to be put in these areas. Sweden has announced they will be collaborating with Zimbabwe to promote its green economy. Wallace Mawire from the Swedish embassy explains how they intends to address; land degradation, excessive littering, urban stream bank agriculture, massive pollution and wetland destruction, among other issues. The Swedish embassy is also conducting ‘Open Forum Series’ that seek to unpack the solutions to green Zimbabwe through open...

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Green Initiatives in Zimbabwe

Posted by | May 15, 2017 | , |

In 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...

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Interview with Hon. Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri (MP)

Interview with Hon. Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri (MP)

Posted by | Jan 6, 2017 | , , |

Are traditional leaders in rural areas (village heads, chiefs, councilors, VIDCO) doing enough to protect the environment? If so, what are they doing right? If not, what can be done to encourage them to do more for the environment? The MEWC works well with traditional leaders who are the custodians of the natural resources in the areas under their jurisdiction in terms of the Traditional Leaders Act. They uphold norms and values that are consistent with natural resources management and there are graduated sanctions that are imposed to environmental offenders. Cultural beliefs and values have for many years been...

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