YONECO, with support from Hivos, initiated a tree planting exercise in which a total of 5,000 tree seedlings have been planted around Ndangopuma Hill in Zomba City.
YONECO’s Executive Director MacBain Mkandawire stated that conserving the natural environment would help to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change in the country.
Mkandawire observed that the loss of some glorious natural resources in the district has resulted into serious challenges like the drying up of Lake Chilwa and many rivers.
The Mayor for Zomba, His worship Christopher Jana who graced the exercise also echoed what Mkandawire said. His worship Jana stated that the results of environmental damage that has happened over the years in the district is greatly affecting socioeconomic welfare of people in the district.
“We can reverse our predicament and I would like to implore other institutions in this city to emulate what YONECO has done today,” His worship Jana.
The exercise attracted a number of individuals including the Zomba District Youth Officer (DYO) – kate Mwandira; the Chairperson for Zomba Civil Society Network – Newton Sindo, the Acting Zomba City Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Mussa Mwale as well as older community members and young people from various townships of the city.
YONECO Cultural Troupe spiced up the exercise with a traditional dance and a song that was aimed at promoting collective responsibility towards ensuring that the tree seedlings should survive and grow.
The exercise was initiated under Stimulating Citizen and Public Engagement in Green and Inclusive Energy (GIE) for Sustainable Development (Go Green) project which is being funded by HIVOS.
