Mzimba Heritage launches 2024 tree planting exercise

Mzimba Heritage Association (Mziha) secretary general Kingsley Jere has disclosed that his organization will plant 400, 000 trees during 2024 forestry season.

Jere said this in an interview after the launch of the exercise on Tuesday in the district.

Samuel “Chimukwevu” Chirwa who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mzimba Luwerezi constituency appealed to communities especially the youths to take active role in the planting exercise in order to deal with issues of climate change.

According to Chirwa, the climate change effects are triggered by human induced non environmental activities such as cutting down of trees in mentioning a few.

“First let me thank Mziha for inviting me. I want to appeal to everyone in this district especially the youths to take positive steps in making our environment a better place. Dry spell and other disasters of climate change are because of deforestation,” he appealed.

He also pleaded with the community to take care of the planted and existing trees in order to have great environment.

“For the planted and existing trees to survive, it will need everyone’s responsibility to take of it,” he added.

Paramount Chief Mbelwa who was also guest of honor asked all chiefs under his jurisdiction to put in place measures that will help to protect and preserve trees in order to avoid further climate change effects.

“Human resource patrols is very important to reduce cutting down of trees. Chiefs must be in forefront to deal with such issues in their area,” he said.

He said issues if planting and protecting trees must not be in the hands of government only but chiefs and their subjects.

On January 26 this year, President Lazarus Chakwera launched 2023-2024 forestry season at Mpasa Hills in Phalombe.

The 2023-2024 Forest season was launched under the theme “Forest innovation in action: reforestation for sustainable tomorrow.”