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Manica Youth Assembly (MAYA) LAUNCHES MUTARE GREENING PROJECT Manica Youth Assembly (MAYA) achieved a milestone yesterday 05/12/18 after successfully launching the Mutare green and refostation project at Murahwa Hills Primary School in Chikanga. The launch occasion was graced by His worship the Mayor of Mutare clr Blessing Tandi and other Councillors. More significant was the attendance of five Mayors from ,Bindura Zvishavane, Hwange, Chinhoyi and Kariba Mayors who took time off their busy schedule at the ucaz meeting to attend this historical event. MAYA contributed 100 plants which were planted at Murahwa Hills Primary School. This event marked the Genesis of MAYA's strategic green and reforestation project that aims to plant 5000 trees in the next 12 months in Mutare and other parts of Manicaland. MAYA recognizes the serious negative effects of climate change and environmental degradation on humaninity and mother earth and has deliberately taken this greening and reforestation project as a duty and service humanity and mother earth. It is a time to act NOW. It is not a secret that Citizens from the global South including Zimbabwe are the worst affected by climate change which has seriously negatively impacted on livelihoods, food production, spread of tropical disease, pollution and increased poverty. His worship the Mayor of Mutare Clr Blessing Tandi commended MAYA for complimenting council's vision of a clean and safe City a vision which is in sync with the sustainable development goals. He reiterated the need for continuous engagement and cooperation between the local authority and stakeholders be it business, civic society and individuals for the betterment of Mutare. Further, the mayor exhorted citizens to not just monitor duty bearers like council and government but also assist where ever they can to enhance service delivery and protect the environment. He encouraged residents to take responsibility and plant trees and keep the city clean by not to littering. MAYA pledged to continue partnering with council and to become strong advocates and athletes for the environment and climate change. MAYA work and encourage citizens to plant a trees in their environments to ensure and monitor the protection and conservation of our country’s environment especially wet lands, water bodies, pollution and carbon emissions. As young people we welcome anyone who is serious about solving climate change and we work with any members across the political spectrum to find common ground on climate change solutions. MAYA VOICE FOR YOUTH, WITH YOUTH BY YOUTH!
Sustainable Actions in this Community
1.13.21: Ignorance, Need for firewood, Urban farming among others are causing high deforestation in urban areas. Not acting, not proffering solutions as residents whilst the environment is being destroyed will haunt us one day when we become victims to natural disasters. During this period when Zimbabwe is experiencing high rainfalls countrywide, loose soil is eroded in to homesteads thus destroying crops, furniture and other things. Currently hundreds of families in Mutare are in poverty as their few items which were supposed to sustain them during this lock down sank into mud. The devastating event was a wake up call to every citizen . There is paramount need for collaborative efforts in protecting the environment especially to stop deforestation and poor farming in mountains and river banks. Manica Youth Assembly urges every citizen to take action and join the Re-Greening Mutare Project. Today MAYA planted 50 baobab trees. A baobab tree is well known as the "Tree of Life" with it's numerous benefits as it provides shelter, clothing, food water for animals among others. Baobab roots prevent soil erosion which helps in reducing mud and rock flows. Let us save lives by planting a tree.
October 20, 2020:
I am writing to request for generous donations of plant seeds as we approach the planting season. As you know MAYA is a grassroots youth organization working to advocate for environmental protection and climate justice targeting the youths. We are therefore appealing for support to allow us to plant as many trees as possible within the mountains of Mutare especially Dangamvura and Dora areas where we are strongly involved with tree planting. The seeds and seedlings will be used to make the area green again. Any support will go a long way.Your consideration is highly appreciated.
Here is the Official Document, to plant 1000 trees.
Dec 24, 2019:
Another year has gone by and what a year that 2019 has been! It was a rollercoaster yeat punctuated by epic disasters and milestones too that MAYA achieved. There was mourning , groaning, celebrations and collaborations too. The 2019 disasters were of epic proportions, unthinkable but still happened anyway, some man made, some natural disasters. Major disasters that struck where local and national. 14 January saw citizens taking to the streets in protest against exorbitant fuel price by government. For a week the country was closed , youths as young as 14 leading the demonstrations resulting in the death of dozens of citizens and arrest of hundreds more citizens. Allegations of the military raping women were reported as government adopted a murderous stance as a response to genuine citizens grievances under the guise of enforcing public law and order. A perusal of court records show that up to 40% of those arrested were youths. 14 March, cyclone idai struck Manicaland and other parts of the country. It made its landfall on the 15th of March hitting Chimanimani and chipinge mercilessly turning Chimanimani into a desolate waste land. Death toll stood at almost 400 confirmed but many more are still missing and feared dead. Billions worth of infrastructure was destroyed. This was angry nature displaying her potent power and simultaneously giving mankind a clear warming that this is the time to act on mitigating climate change or else more cyclone idais on drugs shall be our daily dose in the short future. Cyclone Idai disaster exposed our govt especially the civil protection services which were found wanting. It also exposed poor planning on the part of local authorities on the way they allocate residential stands with scant regard for human safety as evidenced by poor settlement patterns at Ngangu and Kopa as they are driven more by the desire for Revenue collection. Manicaland in tandem with the country and region experienced frequent heat waves and rise in temperature which contributed to malaria cases especially in areas that were not malaria prone such as Vumba, Chimanimani, chipinge, Honde valley and Nyanga. Malaria has been one of the major diseases that has been affecting and afflicting youths in this region retarding development. Amidst all this gloom, MAYA saw an opportunity in the disaster especially cyclone Idai and begin to work on practical solutions in order mitigate the negative effects of climate change and environmental degradation. MAYA sourced relief materials such as clothing, toys, food items and blankets which were handed to survivors of cyclone idai in chimanimani amd chipinge. MAYA also was among the first organizations to visit the cyclone ravaged mutsvangwa area in Chimanimani. The year was an opportunity to upscale our interventions and help communities cope up with environmental disasters. In pursuance of this agenda MAYA planted just over 2000 trees in Mutare. Trees are life and save as the first line of defence against violent weather. Further, MAYA partnered the city of Mutare in planting several trees and flowers from the civic centre up to Christmas Pass, an 8 km stretch. MAYA further planted 500 trees at various schools and churches in Mutare, that included adventist school , beaulah Heights school, salvation army school to name but a few beneficiaries of our tree planting work. As we approach 2020, MAYA intends to intensify its climate and environmental justice lobby and advocacy campaign to Buhera and Makoni districts and to enhance our partnerships with like minded organisations and communities. The need to mitigate effects of climate change at all levels is never more urgent than it is now. During the year, MAYA took a leading role in educating and sharing information with the public on the responsibilities of residents to keep the environment clean especially the need to manage the disposal of solid waste such as diapers, cans and plastics. MAYA also unpacked the constitution bill of rights especially section 73 which talks about the "right to a clean and safe environment. For sustainability purposes, MAYA encourages schools and churches to adopt the plant a tree at your school/church concept every year to respond to massive deforestation. In most parts of Manicaland.
Sep 3, 2019:
MAYA ON DEFORESTATION AND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOLUTIONS MAYA has noted with serious concern the current wave of attacks on the environment. MAYA is awake to the reasons and excuses proffered for this targeted destruction of our environment, chief among them being poverty, power blackouts courtesy of power supply unit(ZESA), prohibitive cost of gas(LPG) and the long held practice of the use of wood as an energy source not least because of the fact that it is easily available but is also cheap, qualities that has caused the current onslaught on trees in and around the City of Mutare especially the surrounding mountains have been shaved. MAYA draws inspiration from Section 73 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which clearly states that “everyone has a right to an environment that is not harmful to their health and well being and to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations” This important narrative in our Constitution gives citizens of this great nation the right to a safe environment that is not only safe to live in but should further healthy living. This implies that citizens must enjoy the right by assuming greater responsibility towards serving the environment and the climate in general. As citizens actively partake in cutting down trees in an effort to quench the insatiable quest for energy, where alternatives are hard to come by and where they are available, they are out of reach and are basically usurious to say the least. MAYA fully appreciates the energy and economic challenges that citizens have to contend with on a daily basis, however, this does not take away the responsibility for citizens to “draw and replace” whenever they cut down a tree for energy or whatever use. Plant three trees for each tree cut. This will be in line with goal 13 of the sustainable development goals which urge governments and stakeholders to “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts by regulating emissions and promoting developments in renewable energy. This generation owes it to future generations to pass on an environment, a Manicaland, a Zimbabwe, an Africa and a world that is not harmful and detrimental to the well being of future generations. We have a moral and ecological basis for our service to the environment. This is why as MAYA we are concerned by the wanton cutting down of trees. Vumba, Fern valley, Burma Valley and Penhalonga are fast becoming barren as the massive plantations and trees that formed envelopes of lush green forests that supported large species of biodiversity are fast disappearing. Source of much needed humus is being decimated. Around Mutare, Dangamvura mountains, Murahwa hills, Sheni and surrounding environs no longer have any trees nor animals to talk about and this has resulted in increased Human wildlife conflicts especially baboons and monkeys which are now constant and persistent visitors to homes in search of food. Residents in Fairbridge Park have these visitors every day. The state of our environment caused by cutting down of trees in and around Mutare is dire and with the experience of cyclone Idai, it is time to act. If another cyclone were to come, Mutare will be easily washed away as the first line of defense.. Trees and vegetation.. has long left its “guarding post” living the city at the mercy of its enemies. In mitigating this curse, MAYA urges government and stakeholders to seriously interrogate SDG Goal 7 which calls for access to affordable, reliable energy while increasing the share of renewable energy in the energy mix. It is a fact that most alternatives of energy are expensive like solar and biogas, however, there is need for government to consider subsidising these energy sources. With the vast amounts of coal at Hwange and Gokwe, policies should be put in place where citizens access to coal should be encouraged. Coal should be distributed to citizens in the same way food aid is distributed since energy is a basic need. Coal is a national treasure which can in the meantime mitigate the problem of cutting down of trees which has a serious effect on biodiversity and water bodies. As the rainy season commences, MAYA urges all concerned citizens to plant as many trees as possible. A tree planted is life saved. The time to act is now. MAYA will take the lead to plant 10 000 trees within schools and communities especially targeting mountains during this rainy season through partnerships with schools and local authority. MAYA for environment protection. Do not just grow old grow trees.
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Mobilising communities to adapt to the changing climate and making resilient communities. The communities have the responsibility to make sure garbage is properly disposed as well as watching against cutting down of trees without replacing them. Without proper managing of resources, the communities will suffer from the effects of climate change and include but not limited to floods and excessive heat waves that affect the production of crops within the region.
MAYA was educating the communities to try and separate biodegradable from non biodegradable waste in their houses.
Community participation is key to the success of the programmes that affect the communities day in day out. Without community participation the programmes will not have a strong buy in and hence the need to involve them throughout the processes.
MAYA as an organisation targeting youths the participants also involved the youth members. It is our duty as young people to protect the environment and who else can do it. MAYA for protecting the environment.
MAYA continue in advocating for a clean environment and safe for all. This was amplified when there was a specific activity to collect and store plastics that were dumped into water bodies. The main river affected in Mutare is the Sakubva river in Mutare Zimbabwe. It’s time for a change was MAYA’s motto during the plastic collection along the river. While plastic has many valuable uses, we have become addicted to single-use or disposable plastic — with severe environmental consequences. Around the world, one million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute, while up to 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used worldwide every year. In total, half of all plastic produced is designed to be used only once—and then thrown away. Plastic waste is now so ubiquitous in the natural environment that scientists have even suggested it could serve as a geological indicator of the Anthropocene era. So how did we get here? People are buying in shops and other point of sales some plastic bags which they cannot destroy and they end up in rivers and affecting the water we drink.
From the 1950s to the 70s, only a small amount of plastic was produced, so plastic waste was relatively manageable. By the 1990s, plastic waste generation had more that tripled in two decades, following a similar rise in plastic production. The occurrence of cyclone Idai recently that affected three countries namely Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique in Southern Africa has actually added to the effects of plastic disposal. Areas along the Sakubva river have been heavily affected and downstream in Dora area and eventually along Odzi and Save river. The effects are felt when animals start dying after consuming large amounts of plastic and end up affecting the digestive system. All the plastics are being washed and deposited into the sea and ending up affecting the aquatic life especially fish and other creatures where countries also depend financially.
The effects of plastic pollution is massive even on the oceans and seas. Plastic pollution is killing cetaceans, including dolphins and whales. After ingesting massive amounts of plastic, marine mammals are dying of thirst and hunger. Hence MAYA is calling for plastic free and ethos lifestyle which will encourage the safe environment safe for every animal under the sun. Join us on facebook and tweeter to advocate for plastic free environment and also communities to be proactive in reducing the number of plastics disposed in rivers.
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Manica Youth Assembly(MAYA) with the support of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches(ZCC) took part at a belated 2019 Day of the African Child commemoration at a rural community of Zvipiripiri in Manicaland,Zimbabwe. The activity is a culmination of the SDGs and child rights dialogue which was held last month where all stakeholders reflected on the state of the child welfare using SDGs as the basis of analysis and possible interventions.
The Day of the African Child Commemoration provides a platform for the local child leaders together with their rural counterparts to lobby and advocate for a more child friendly policy and environment. This is a critical component seeing kids participating in governance issues at local level.
Kids who attended also spoke on early child marriages which are rampant on the area amid severe shortage of books and other critical items for learning. This makes the girls child very vulnerable and end up succumbing to early marriages. Duty bearers should see to it that the books and relevant materials for conducive learning environment are adequately provided timeously. Most kids are not attending school due to shortage of food and this has also been as a result of the effects of climate change where patterns of rainfall has been erratic and fields unable to produce to feed the families. In all this the girl child is the one who suffers most and with the great need for sanitary pads monthly, majority of them cannot afford hence they revert to unhygienic materials with disastrous health consequences. There is need for climate change advocacy and lobbying and involve the communities in dealing with adaptation and encouraging massive planting of trees in response.