Power cuts compel Imvelo Youths Initiative to do more 

Providence Moyo

The rampant cutting down of trees mainly for firewood due to incessant powercuts in Bulawayo  has compelled Imvelo youths initiative to intensify its operations.

The youth group’s weekly ‘Fridaytree’ planting and care has now morphed to a daily ‘365tree’ planting and caring initiative.

Imvelo youths initiative  is an organisation that is youth led. Its aim is to raise awareness on climate change by planting and taking care of trees and the environment in Bulawayo. Pumula suburb is the main focus though the organisation’s operations also cover some other of  the city.

Speaking to Community Podium, the director of the project Muziwandile Ncube said power cuts have massively impacted the environment as more people cut down trees as a sbstitute for electricity in the city and this has had an accelerating effect on climate change.

“We realised that as blackout intensifies, our  environment  suffers as people cut trees as an alternative power source hence we are losing too much in the war against climate change. Trees are important in our lives and if well taken care of, these trees will help reduce poverty hence we have now dedicated every day to do activities that conserve vegetation. These activities  may just be watering a tree, planting one or even just assessing and monitoring trees that we have planted,” he said.

Imvelo coordinator Stanley Moyo said given the electricity challenges bedevilling the city, more trees are bound to be cut down as people are hunting for firewood. He said blackouts must not be an excuse to harm the all-important environment.

Climate change is one of Africa’s most rapid challenges which Vision 2030 seeks to address