EMA warned Bulawayo residents risked facing the wrath of the law as
illegal disposal of garbage was a criminal offence that attracted a fine
or even a jail term.
Bulawayo Province Education and Publicity officer, Mildred Matunga
said this during an anti litter clean-up campaign organised by the
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) to mark the World
Environment Day at Egodini Terminus last week.
Bulawayo residents are exposing themselves to health threats through
the random disposal of garbage. We are very much worried that people do
not manage their refuse properly. We therefore advise that it is a
crime to drop garbage anywhere.
He said it was also illegal for commuter omnibus operators to travel without a refuse disposal bin in their vehicles.
This years international theme of the Environment Day is Many
Species, One Planet, One Future while the Bulawayo theme is Many People,
One Bulawayo, One Future, Lets keep Bulawayo Clean.
BPRA conducted the clean-up campaign in conjunction with the Bulawayo
City Council, Radio Dialogue, EMA, Bulawayo Youth Council, national
Youth Development Trust, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl
Scouts and Zimbabwe Development Democracy Trust.
The Mayor of Bulawayo, Councillor Thaba Moyo, who was the guest of honour, officially launched the clean-up campaign.
He also urged the city residents to observe environmental laws to keep the city clean.
Friday 26 April 2013
cutting down trees effects rainfall patterns
Researchers found that cutting down rainforests can dramatically reduce the amount of rain in surrounding areas.
Leeds researchers found that if current rates of deforestation continues, rain could drop by 21 per cent in the Amazon basin’s dry season by 2050.
Their analysis found that air passing over vegetation produces about twice as much rain as that blowing across sparsely covered ground.
In some cases these forests increased rainfall thousands of kilometres away.
Scientists say their findings published in Nature suggest current rates of deforestation of the Amazon will lead to large reductions in regional rainfall.
They estimate that by 2050 destruction of tropical forests would reduce rain across the Amazon basin by 21 per cent in the dry season and 12 per cent in the wet season.
Dr Dominick Spracklen, of Leeds University, said: 'We were surprised to find this effect occurs strongly across more than half of the tropics.
'We found the Amazon and Congo forests maintain rainfall over the periphery of the forest basins - regions where large numbers of people live and rely on rainfall for their livelihoods.
'Our study implies deforestation of the Amazon and Congo forests could have catastrophic consequences for the people living thousands of kilometres away in surrounding countries.'
Scientists have debated whether vegetation increases rainfall for hundreds of years.
It is well established plants put moisture back in the air through their leaves by a process known as evapotranspiration.
But the quantity and geographical reach of rainfall generated by large forests has - until now - been unclear.
While there is plenty of anecdotal evidence forests significantly increase rainfall there has been a lack of observational evidence.
So Dr Spracklen and colleagues combined new NASA satellite observations with future predictions of atmospheric wind flow patterns to explore the impact of the Earth’s tropical forests.
He said: 'We looked at what had been happening to the air over previous days - where it came from and how much forest it had travelled over.'
His team investigated the journey of air masses arriving over different parts of the forest to see the cumulative amount of leaf cover it had moved across during the previous ten days - not just the amount of vegetation it was over when it rained.
This showed the more vegetation the air had passed over the more moisture it carried and the more rain was produced.
ema fails to control veld fires
Tabitha Mutenga Farming Reporter
THE Comptroller and Auditor General, Mildred Chi-ri, says key state agencies tasked with environmental protection have failed to control veld fires resulting in massive destruction of properties and loss of lives.
In a recent report to Parliament, Chiri said the Environmental Managem-ent Agency (EMA) and the Forestry Commission had failed to stop people who started fires for hunting purposes.
She said cases of arson had increased while fires that started from unattended fires at bus stops had also destroyed lives and properties.
Clearing land for cultivation had also resulted in veld fires while some fires had been caused by people throwing cigarette stubs into bushes.
"EMA and the Forestry Commission were failing to control veld fires," Chiri said.
"For example in 2004, 2,8 million hectares were burnt across the country and this rose to over seven million in 2005. National veld fire statistics from 2006 were not available for audit because of poor record keeping," Chiri said.
In the four provinces that the auditor general visited, it was revealed that EMA had failed to adequately enforce fire guard laws. It was also established that the veld fires had become a perennial problem in all provinces, dest-roying large tracts of land, human life, property, animals and other natural resources.
This had disturbed the fragile ecosystem.
The four provinces that Chiri and her team visited were Manicaland, Masv-ingo, Mashonaland West and Matabeleland North.
In Nyanga, the auditor general discovered that resettled farmers were not aware that they were required to clear fireguards around their properties.
"I also visited Ziwa monuments which is an archaeological storage site surrounded by resettlements. The area witnessed three veld fires in 2009 resulting in 2 500 hectares being burnt, threatening the survival of the flora and fauna. The natural beauty of the landscape was destroyed on this tourist site," she said.
"The effects of veld fires include forest degradation, reduction in economic value of timber with fire scars, soil erosion, loss of property and lives. It also contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer," she added.
Chiri noted that EMA was reactive rather than proactive in fire management.
She said 80 percent of the country's farmers did not know the standard width of fireguards.
The report said the auditor general had established that the problem of veld fires was rampant in Makonde, Zvimba and Chegutu districts.
Some farmers in Mt Hampden, Christonbank, Kepure, Chidza, Brendants
and Britannia expressed ignorance on the existence of EMA and the Forestry Commission.
The auditor-general recommended that EMA should effectively enforce environmental laws to curb veld fires and intensify anti-fire campaigns towards and during the fire season.
The audit was motivated by a public outcry on the degradation of the environment through deforestation in per-urban and resettlement areas, evidenced by the clearance of vast pieces of land by people in peri-urban areas like Cleveland Dam and resettlement areas in Goromonzi and Nyabira where vegetation has been extensively destroyed.
Chiri noted with great concern that annual tree growing targets were rarely met.
In 2009, the Forestry Commission had targeted planting 960 149 but only 268 705 were planted.
"I observed that the Forestry Commission failed to fully implement the Tobacco Wood Energy Programme by tobacco growers in resettlement areas, which was meant to encourage tobacco growers to plant woodlots at their farms for curing tobacco.
"As a result, resettled farmers were cutting down indigenous trees for curing tobacco as they did not have any gum plantations on their farms. The Forestry Commission was not monitoring the activities of the tobacco farmers."
Since the beginning of the land reform programme, there has been pressure on indigenous forests as farmers resorted to firewood as a source of energy for curing tobacco in communal areas and resettlement areas.
A tobacco farmer requires one tonne of firewood to cure one tonne of tobacco.
There is fear that desertification, which has already been taking place in areas like Seke and Chihota communal areas, would be experienced in other areas if the problem is not addressed.
The audit also revealed that due to lack of monitoring, the situation had also led to the massive illegal cutting down of indigenous trees for wood carving, production of ceramics and bricks.
Chiri suggested that the Forestry Commission resuscitate nurseries to allow them to control the quality and quantity of seedlings produced.
"They should also encourage farmers to grow indigenous trees because they face extinction. Forestry Commission and EMA should do routine field or forest inspections, restricting the cutting or removal of indigenous trees as the activities are injurious to the sustainability of forests," she said.
The auditor general also recommended the accreditation of all wood carvers and commercial manufacturers of bricks and ceramics to facilitate the control of cutting down of indigenous trees.
The audit revealed shortcomings in the operations of both Forestry Commission and EMA in curbing deforestation and controlling of veld fires.
"The Forestry Commission transfer of seedling nurseries to schools, communities and individuals to manage them on a commercial basis has impacted negatively on efforts to plant more trees as the targeted group lack the technical knowledge and financial resources to effectively manage the seedling nurseries," Chiri said.
Shortages of forestry extension officers has also contributed to deforestation since some positions have been vacant since 2000 with districts like Zakam, Lupane, Hurungwe and Kariba going for more than two years without forestry officers.
Chiri advised the Forestry Commission to develop appropriate technologies for improved and sustainable management of indigenous and exotic plantation forests.
She said the commission should encourage communities to grow indigenous trees.
THE Comptroller and Auditor General, Mildred Chi-ri, says key state agencies tasked with environmental protection have failed to control veld fires resulting in massive destruction of properties and loss of lives.
In a recent report to Parliament, Chiri said the Environmental Managem-ent Agency (EMA) and the Forestry Commission had failed to stop people who started fires for hunting purposes.
She said cases of arson had increased while fires that started from unattended fires at bus stops had also destroyed lives and properties.
Clearing land for cultivation had also resulted in veld fires while some fires had been caused by people throwing cigarette stubs into bushes.
"EMA and the Forestry Commission were failing to control veld fires," Chiri said.
"For example in 2004, 2,8 million hectares were burnt across the country and this rose to over seven million in 2005. National veld fire statistics from 2006 were not available for audit because of poor record keeping," Chiri said.
In the four provinces that the auditor general visited, it was revealed that EMA had failed to adequately enforce fire guard laws. It was also established that the veld fires had become a perennial problem in all provinces, dest-roying large tracts of land, human life, property, animals and other natural resources.
This had disturbed the fragile ecosystem.
The four provinces that Chiri and her team visited were Manicaland, Masv-ingo, Mashonaland West and Matabeleland North.
In Nyanga, the auditor general discovered that resettled farmers were not aware that they were required to clear fireguards around their properties.
"I also visited Ziwa monuments which is an archaeological storage site surrounded by resettlements. The area witnessed three veld fires in 2009 resulting in 2 500 hectares being burnt, threatening the survival of the flora and fauna. The natural beauty of the landscape was destroyed on this tourist site," she said.
"The effects of veld fires include forest degradation, reduction in economic value of timber with fire scars, soil erosion, loss of property and lives. It also contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer," she added.
Chiri noted that EMA was reactive rather than proactive in fire management.
She said 80 percent of the country's farmers did not know the standard width of fireguards.
The report said the auditor general had established that the problem of veld fires was rampant in Makonde, Zvimba and Chegutu districts.
Some farmers in Mt Hampden, Christonbank, Kepure, Chidza, Brendants
and Britannia expressed ignorance on the existence of EMA and the Forestry Commission.
The auditor-general recommended that EMA should effectively enforce environmental laws to curb veld fires and intensify anti-fire campaigns towards and during the fire season.
The audit was motivated by a public outcry on the degradation of the environment through deforestation in per-urban and resettlement areas, evidenced by the clearance of vast pieces of land by people in peri-urban areas like Cleveland Dam and resettlement areas in Goromonzi and Nyabira where vegetation has been extensively destroyed.
Chiri noted with great concern that annual tree growing targets were rarely met.
In 2009, the Forestry Commission had targeted planting 960 149 but only 268 705 were planted.
"I observed that the Forestry Commission failed to fully implement the Tobacco Wood Energy Programme by tobacco growers in resettlement areas, which was meant to encourage tobacco growers to plant woodlots at their farms for curing tobacco.
"As a result, resettled farmers were cutting down indigenous trees for curing tobacco as they did not have any gum plantations on their farms. The Forestry Commission was not monitoring the activities of the tobacco farmers."
Since the beginning of the land reform programme, there has been pressure on indigenous forests as farmers resorted to firewood as a source of energy for curing tobacco in communal areas and resettlement areas.
A tobacco farmer requires one tonne of firewood to cure one tonne of tobacco.
There is fear that desertification, which has already been taking place in areas like Seke and Chihota communal areas, would be experienced in other areas if the problem is not addressed.
The audit also revealed that due to lack of monitoring, the situation had also led to the massive illegal cutting down of indigenous trees for wood carving, production of ceramics and bricks.
Chiri suggested that the Forestry Commission resuscitate nurseries to allow them to control the quality and quantity of seedlings produced.
"They should also encourage farmers to grow indigenous trees because they face extinction. Forestry Commission and EMA should do routine field or forest inspections, restricting the cutting or removal of indigenous trees as the activities are injurious to the sustainability of forests," she said.
The auditor general also recommended the accreditation of all wood carvers and commercial manufacturers of bricks and ceramics to facilitate the control of cutting down of indigenous trees.
The audit revealed shortcomings in the operations of both Forestry Commission and EMA in curbing deforestation and controlling of veld fires.
"The Forestry Commission transfer of seedling nurseries to schools, communities and individuals to manage them on a commercial basis has impacted negatively on efforts to plant more trees as the targeted group lack the technical knowledge and financial resources to effectively manage the seedling nurseries," Chiri said.
Shortages of forestry extension officers has also contributed to deforestation since some positions have been vacant since 2000 with districts like Zakam, Lupane, Hurungwe and Kariba going for more than two years without forestry officers.
Chiri advised the Forestry Commission to develop appropriate technologies for improved and sustainable management of indigenous and exotic plantation forests.
She said the commission should encourage communities to grow indigenous trees.
ema gives police ultimatum over tear gas
Lorraine Phiri and Nokuthaba Mathema
ENVIRONMENTAL Management Agency (EMA) has given police in Bulawayo a 24-hour ultimatum to clear spilled teargas concentrate at Lobengula Street and Third Avenue Extension.
It is believed that the police, who were deployed to quell commotion at Barbourfields Stadium after the Highlanders/Dynamos soccer match a fortnight ago, spilled the teargas concentrate.
The gas makes breathing difficult and causes a running nose, dizziness, skin irritation and itching in the eyes.
The concentrate has reportedly affected pupils from Mckeurtan Primary School and tenants in surrounding buildings.
In an interview yesterday, EMA spokesperson Mr Steady Kangata said it was the duty of the police to clean up the area.
"Those responsible for the spillage, in this case the police, must clean up the area today without further delay. The cleanliness of the environment is not only about visual cleanliness, but is also about the cleanliness of the air," he said.
Mr Kangata said further action would be taken in the event that the police do not adhere to EMA's directive.
"I have no doubt that they will comply because we have engaged the police at Fairbridge, who know the type of concentrate and how to neutralise it," said Mr Kangata.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo said specialists had made recommendations on how to address the problem and police were following the recommendations.
"Over the weekend, a group of specialists attended to the scene and made recommendations," he said.
Meanwhile, a 38-year-old woman from Nguboyenja suburb collapsed after inhaling gases from the concentrate over the weekend and has since been admitted at Mzilikazi Clinic.
Ms Bekezela Mpofu said she experienced difficulties in breathing and collapsed while passing through the area.
"I have asthma and when I passed through Betty Building, I experienced challenges in breathing, as if something was blocking my lungs. Before I reached for my inhaler, I collapsed.
"At the moment I am being given medication since the inhaler I was using before can no longer help me," said Ms Mpofu.
Last week, the Fire Brigade failed to neutralise the spillage.
Monday 8 April 2013
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTS OF THE DAY
Putting the environment on the media agenda “ Were the [African] media to be faced with the choice ofcovering either the natural or the political environment, they should, without any hesitation choose the latter, for in the African context, the mismanagement of the political sphere is the more imminent calamity” – Okigbo 1995 Role of advertisers, politics, sources, advocacy, etc
. Defining the environment The simple and the technical Examples - Everything that surrounds anything - The complex set of physical, geographic, biological, social, cultural and political conditions that surround an individual or organism and that ultimately determines its form and nature of its survival - Chenje et al “ components of the earth, including air, land and water, all layers of the atmosphere, all organic and inorganic matter and living organisms, and the interacting systems that include all of these components
Putting the environment on the media agenda “ Were the [African] media to be faced with the choice ofcovering either the natural or the political environment, they should, without any hesitation choose the latter, for in the African context, the mismanagement of the political sphere is the more imminent calamity” – Okigbo 1995 Role of advertisers, politics, sources, advocacy, etc
. Defining the environment The simple and the technical Examples - Everything that surrounds anything - The complex set of physical, geographic, biological, social, cultural and political conditions that surround an individual or organism and that ultimately determines its form and nature of its survival - Chenje et al “ components of the earth, including air, land and water, all layers of the atmosphere, all organic and inorganic matter and living organisms, and the interacting systems that include all of these components
Wednesday 20 March 2013
bulawayo market
keep the environment clean
people of Zimbabwe i think it is our time to show concern over our environment. we seem to have focused a lot on trivial issues , being concerned with our own houses, beauty and other pertinent issues forgetting that our environment is also of paramount importance. what then can u say about our environment do we need to leave it like that or we need to take convalescence of it
Monday 18 March 2013
climatic change a matter of concern
climatic changes hav e been a matter of concern to all zimbabweans and abroad. since the year 2000 zimbabwe has experienced a drastic change in climatic conditions having most of its part severely affected by pereenial droughts.
it has been noted that the most affected regions include all matebeleland regiond, southern parts of midlands and masvingo. these regions have experienced perennial dry spells leading to the reduction of animal farming and cereal crop productuvity. most people have been severly affected by this development. it has been projected that, the change of has made many families to live on the mouth to hand.
environmentalists say this has been caused by massive cutting drought of trees,poisonous exhausts from cars .
it has been noted that the most affected regions include all matebeleland regiond, southern parts of midlands and masvingo. these regions have experienced perennial dry spells leading to the reduction of animal farming and cereal crop productuvity. most people have been severly affected by this development. it has been projected that, the change of has made many families to live on the mouth to hand.
environmentalists say this has been caused by massive cutting drought of trees,poisonous exhausts from cars .
Thursday 7 March 2013
Wednesday 6 March 2013
Monday 4 March 2013
ladies and gentlemen it has been a matter of concern in most of the locations that waterbone diseases are haunting most house holds.most of us have been blaming the authorities for failure to meet the humanitarian standards but my concerns lies within how we manage our environment.my advice is that sanitation is done by us for the good of our environment
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