By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
TelOne acting managing director Engineer Lawrence Nkala says about US$20 000 was used on consolidation of a nursery project which produced about 60,000 seedlings this year.
In his remarks at Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) Harare Metropolitan Province Nursery, Seedling and Orchard Management and Production graduation ceremony Tuesday, Eng Nkala said TelOne would withdraw its quota for their tree planting programmes.
“Under this programme, we have been supporting the consolidation of the nursery project seeing the facility producing about 60,000 seedlings this year.
“TelOne will withdraw its quota for our own tree planting programmes and we are happy to support ZPCS in the commercialization of the rest of the seedlings,” Eng Nkala said.
“Using our network, points of presence nationally and go to market capacity we can be able to assist to push seedling sales not only to make the project self-sustaining but also to earn some income for the prisons.”
He said ZPCS could easily make in excess of US$50,000 per annum from tree seedling sales and were ready to support the endeavor.
“The project comes from this deep conviction in our role as environmental stewards, which has seen environmental management standing out as a key pillar in our Corporate Social Investment programming informed by Sustainable Development Goal 13 on Climate Action,” he said.
The graduation ceremony coincided with TelOne’s belated National Tree Planting Day Commemorations, which had seen the mobile giant taking time to plant trees at the event.
“Beyond today, we are pleased to inform you that of the seedlings that TelOne will withdraw from the nursery, 20,000 will be distributed to 200 schools from across all the country’s provinces,” Eng Nkala said.
He encouraged people to appreciate and value the importance of trees and vegetation as expressly spelt out in this year’s theme which says, “Trees and Forests for Ecosystem Restoration and Improved Livelihoods”.
The emphasis on ecosystem restoration is hinged on the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), which is a global rallying cry to heal the planet and indeed this programme could not have come at a better time.
He congratulated the graduating inmates urging them to put the skills to good use saying the project had potential to financially empower them.
Some 15 inmates and three officers graduated in Nursery, Seedling and Orchard Management and Production Course.
Friend of the Environment (FOTE), who are a member of the Nyaradzo Group made the programme possible as technical partners.
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