Young Environmentalist plants the seeds of change

By Kenneth Nyika | 5 December 2024

A young environmentalist from Bulawayo is making steps in promoting environmental sustainability in the Matebeland community.

Simelweyinkosi Masuku, a teenager from Mzilikazi, is the director of One Planet Trust, a budding organization focused on tree planting and environmental conservation.

In an interview with SkyzMetro FM, Masuku stated that she is committed to preserving the nature in all ways possible with the environment facing many challenges such as climate change and harm from the community members.

“I choose to fight for the environment , so that I could correct some of the critical areas which are being ignored by people in our communities. I ventured into tree planting as another way of involving children in solving some of the worlds challenges such as climate change as well as assisting in fighting deforestation and planting trees for the wild life,” she said.

Recently, Masuku donated 150 trees to Mr. Masiye of Lupane Ndwane village. The trees were planted at Mr. Masiye’s homestead during the National Tree Planting Day.

Fadzai Chikuni, the Forestry Extension Officer for Lupane, commended Masuku’s efforts citing that she is a passionate individual who is making a real difference in the community.

” As Forestry Commission we support tree nurseries institutions and everyone who is willing to do a nursery by providing tree seedlings. For instance this one for Masuku as the forestry commision we provided seedlings and transport for moving the seedlings from Bulawayo to Lupane district ,where they had said they wanted to plant the trees,” said Chikuni.

The Forestry Commission has also partnered with Masuku, receiving 95 trees for planting at Elite High School, a private school in Bulawayo.