Tsholotsho community reviews environmental action plan

Amos Mpofu in Tsholotsho

CONCURRENT with the Good Seed and Food Festival being held at Tada Hall in Tsholotsho, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), in partnership with Tsholotsho Rural District Council, is facilitating a two-day Local Environmental Action Plan (LEAP) development workshop, which started yesterday, September 2, and ends today.

The workshop brings together members of the Tsholotsho community to map out a roadmap for sustainable development and identify practical solutions to local environmental challenges.

In accordance with Section 95 of the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27], every local authority is required to develop and implement a Local Environmental Action Plan.

The LEAP is more than just a document; it serves as a community-driven roadmap for sustainable development. It identifies and addresses local environmental challenges, including waste management, wetland protection and pollution control, while outlining practical actions to improve environmental management within the community.

EMA Education and Publicity Officer for Matabeleland North, Mr Graham Ndou, said the workshop was also providing an opportunity to review the existing LEAP to ensure that it remained relevant, practical and aligned with both national development policies, including the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), and the specific needs of the Tsholotsho community.

“Together, we are reviewing the existing LEAP to ensure that it remains relevant, actionable and aligned with both national policies such as NDS2 and the real needs of the Tsholotsho community,” said Mr Ndou.