Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
A HUNDRED indigenous trees have been planted at five schools in Cowdray Park suburb as part of belated World Earth Day commemorations.
World Earth Day falls on April 22 annually and a member of a local apostolic sect, Ezra Bonde, who lives in Cowdray Park suburb, donated the trees that were planted – 20 each at the five schools on Tuesday.
The trees were planted at Mkhithika, Thebe, Mahlathini, Tategulu, Cowdray Park primary schools as well as at Cowdray Park Secondary School.
Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Martin Moyo, in a speech read on his behalf by ward 28 Councillor, Collet Ndhlovu, said people should shun deforestation and environmental degradation to ensure a better place for future generations.
“I urge the school heads to see to it that these trees survive as they have a great potential to unlock economic growth through sale of fruit, timber, parts of them for pharmaceutical use and improving the beauty of your schools,” said the mayor.
Bonde said he chose to donate indigenous trees after realising that they were fast disappearing. He said he has a vision of turning Bulawayo green and has nurseries in Chipinge, Chimanimani and Inyanga were a wider range of indigenous trees are found.
“I thought of tree planting of indigenous trees upon my return from Ethiopia last year were I saw this practice and emulated it,” he said.