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The Cultivators of Cleveland
Environment Africa
Cleveland Newsletter, June 2003

The proximity of Tafara and Mabvuku makes Cleveland an ideal site to establish a Community Programme with the aim of promoting sound management practices for sustainable production purposes: social forestry, sustainable urban agriculture and natural resource management. Implementation of urban community projects at Cleveland compliments protection of both the precious water supply and biodiversity. In 2002 Environment Africa established such a Community Programme. Here are a few examples of the progress made:

• Identification of cultivators - this is still in progress and so far most of the cultivators are almost finishing harvesting maize from their plots. However, small crops such as sweet potatoes, Pegion peas and Madumbe (Yams) are yet to be harvested.
• There has been very good co-operation from the identified cultivators and a great number of them have shown willingness to work with the Community Programme in sustainable Urban Agriculture.
• A total of 400 banana seedlings and 250 Monkey bread seedlings have been identified from an Environment Africa Environmental Action Group in Zvimba for planting by urban cultivators in the Cleveland Catchment.
• So far a total of 150 fruit tree seedlings (mainly citrus, mangoes and avocado) have been planted by a woman conservation club in Mabvuku ward 19.
• The Community Programme have started to work with three schools namely Mabvuku Primary and Secondary Schools and Donney-Brook Primary School.
• Some Conservation clubs have been formed at these schools under the POEMS programme.
• The schools have so far planted a total of 100 trees worth $ 72 000,00. The trees planted were Red Mahogany, Dombeya and Chionathus. The programme is looking forward to starting a series of workshops in July with cultivators so as to come up with local bylaws on cultivation which should be in line with Harare City Council by-laws and other environmental pieces of legislation such as the Natural Resources Act. These by-laws should be in use by the time the next planting season approaches. The aim is to promote a well managed and sustainable harvest with minimal negative impacts on the environment.
  

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