We Have Faith cycling caravan in Zimbabwe

By M'thetho Lungu

22nd September 2015. Bothwell House, Harare. ZIMBABWE

French Ambassador to Zimbabwe and Malawi, H.E. Laurent Delahousse was guest of honour at the We Have Faith Act Now pan-African climate justice cycling campaign in Harare, Zimbabwe.

He expressed support for the campaign and awarded certificates to the six Zimbabwe cyclists and the campaign officials and partners for their engagement towards the Paris COP21 conference.

He also accompanied the team to plant trees just outside of Harare CBD, at Epworth, where school children, journalists, and the community were a glorifying part of the event.

23rd September 2015. Harare Gardens. ZIMBABWE

Honorable Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, the new Minister of Environment, Water and Climate in Zimbabwe says politicians should not only make empty promises, but live true to their pronouncements on dealing with climate change and issues surrounding it.

She was speaking at the Harare Gardens, where the faith community, government and civil society officials, converged for a We Have Faith Act Now for Climate Justice campaign.

Preceded by the arrival of Zimbabwe's 'super six' cyclists from the Flying Eagles Cycling Team, the minister said:

"2014 was recorded as the hottest years since weather recording started in 1880. We are also informed that nine out of ten of the warmest years in the meteorological record has occurred since the year 2000. The intensification and frequency of this changing climate does not afford us to sit back and relax.

"The situation strongly demands that we must act, and act now," she said.

She said it was pleasing the government of Zimbabwe has responded positively by establishing a fully fledged climate change management department that derives its mandate from the Office of the President.

"Remarkable progress has been done in developing a national climate change response strategy in a clear defined action plan and the development of a national climate policy is already at an advanced stage."

She directed her call to developed countries leaders to take note and implement the demands contained in the petition by the churches. That they must live by example.

The minister planted a tree in the gardens followed by the Acting Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Gabriel Munyaradzi.

M'thetho is travelling with the We Have Faith cycling caravan as the official media co-ordinator