Blantyre City Council Mayor, Councillor Joseph Makwinja, has called on corporate institutions to take a leading role in afforestation and the care of trees.
Makwinja made the remarks during a tree-planting exercise organized by Savings and Credit Cooperatives (Sacco) Chapter One at Nyambadwe Hill in Blantyre.
He emphasized the need for sustainability, stating: “We plant trees every year, but sustaining them remains a challenge. Almost all planted trees fail to survive due to various circumstances.”
The mayor urged corporate institutions to adopt newly planted areas and hire caretakers to ensure the trees grow and thrive.
The mayor further expressed concern over the impact of deforestation, stating that it is disheartening to see once tree-covered mountains in the city now left bare.
Chapter One Sacco Director, Mphalulo Fatch, highlighted the institution’s commitment to afforestation, stating that in 2024, Saccos agreed to embark on a tree reafforestation initiative under the theme Live Green.
“We are planting 500 trees on this mountain, and we will ensure their survival through partnerships and continuous monitoring for three years until they grow to maturity,” he said.
He added that Chapter One Sacco is taking a leading role in encouraging its members to plant trees and take advantage of the rainy season to restore what has been lost due to deforestation.
