Council has partnered Silveira House on a re-greening project of green spaces at Kuwadzana major park.
Council has partnered Silveira House on a re-greening project of green spaces at Kuwadzana major park.
The project is being funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The mandate of the project is to do aquaculture and hydroponics as a way of maintaining the park since it had deteriorated
Ward 37 Councillor, Jaison Kautsa allayed fears that the city was leasing out the public park to private players and insisted that council is only getting help from the Silveira House and its financiers on maintaining the park.
"As we can see our park is deteriorating so we found Silveira House which is funded by the UNDP but the City remains the owner of the place.
"They are just here to assist the city to make sure this park is in good condition", said Kautsa.
Council will be providing irrigation water to maintain the football pitch and growing of vegetables as per the plan of the project.
The project will help the community with fresh vegetables and everything that will be produced is to benefit locals.
"We also have taps which are going to help the community in times of water crisis," said Kautsa.
Climate Justice Officer, Shingai Nhara explained that the project will be using the aquaponic system which is the rearing of fish in a controlled environment and growing of crops in soil less environment.
The project will be enforcing the sustainable utilisation of wetlands thereby promoting climate smart technologies.
The project will be also benefit the youths since they are also part participating also in installing of aquaponic system
This aquaponic system is being run by 20 youths from the area who were selected due to their passion for climate justice and environmental conservation issues.
“Basically some of the added activities than we are planning to do here at Kuwadzana major park includes nurseries establishing herbal farming, organic farming, horticultural activities as well as ensuring that this place is maintained so that we conserve the natural ecosystem within this park while we are conserving the biodiversity within this park.
“Our project has got those elements of biodiversity of natural ecosystems while we are regreening the park as well as adding on the green skills to the selected youths in Kuwadzana who now know how to install aquaponic system.
“They can move around and install this aquaponic system to some communities around Kuwadzana and even beyond,” said Nhara.
