By Amos Tendaupenyu 

The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) have embarked on a programme to inculcate a culture of environmental stewardship after noticing an increase in the destruction of forests and woodlands.

Posting on its micro blogging site, the Lands Ministry highlighted deforestation as one of the major contributors to climate change, “The destruction of forests and woodlands is on the increase, with deforestation being cited as one of the major contributors to climate change.

“It is against this background that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces is making efforts to inculcate a culture of environmental stewardship,” said the Ministry.  

Speaking at a tree planting ceremony yesterday, Brigadier General Temba Mlambo promised that the ZDF is committed to environmental conservation, “We are committed to environmental conservation as a mitigation measure against climate change.”  

Responding to a question on whether tobacco farmers are the major contributors to deforestation, the Lands Ministry said it will engage other stakeholders in encouraging tobacco farmers to use coal in place of firewood, and make the use of coal mandatory to all tobacco farmers.