Bulawayo Urban Greening Campaign: Tree planting in Nketa
BULAWAYO – Nketa 6 Park in Ward 24 was a hive of activity when Team ZDDT arrived to witness the tree planting exercise that had been scheduled to take place there.
Residents were busy digging the holes ready to receive the saplings while Bulawayo City Council (BCC) workers unloaded the young trees. In the near distance a City tractor, with bowser attached, waited to provide the water needed.
Cllr. Gideon Mangena, under whom Ward 24 falls, kicked off the main activities when he planted a fine acacia sapling. Thirty of the 100 trees intended for the park were planted in the ensuing hours and it was apparent that all participants were really enjoying the proceedings.
During the refreshments break, Cllr. Mangena observed that he was certain that the newly planted trees would not face the same level of vandalism as previously experienced in the park.
He said that the reason for this was the fact that residents had toiled to plant the new trees, and would consequently make it their duty to protect the saplings. This statement confirms the concept of giving ownership of amenities and projects to the communities, which remains a central aspect of the Trust’s training programmes with residents.
Residents took no part in previous tree planting activities in Nketa 6 Park.
The proceedings of the day are part of a broader programme, known in short as The Bulawayo Urban Greening Campaign, which is administered by ZDDT and funded by GTZ/BMZ, in cooperation with the German Government.