Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri
Ellah Mukwati Herald Reporter
ENVIRONMENT, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri last week commissioned weather equipment worth $2 million donated by the Chinese government.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the donation showed good relations between China and Zimbabwe.
“On behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe, I would like to extend our appreciation to the Government of the People’s Republic of China for extending such a generous donation to capacitate under resourced departments in particular the Meteorological Services Department,” she said.
“This donation comes at an opportune time when the demand for weather and climate information has become unprecedented due to a rapidly changing weather and climate. Our weather has become more extreme, with dry spells becoming droughts and rainy events turning into f loods.
Minister Muchinguri warned people against causing uncontrolled fires.
“Zimbabwe now has another facility to monitor forest fires that are at least 100 metres wide anywhere in Zimbabwe. I am calling upon the Meteorological Services Department and the environmental agency to as a matter of urgency join hands in monitoring these veld fires taking advantage of the round-the clock surveillance and early warning system.”
“The equipment enables us to alert local authorities on any uncontrolled forest fires so that they swiftly move in to extinguish before they get out of hand. Even more pleasing will be our ability to track the source of the fire within a 50 meters radius making it easier to catch the culprits,” she said.
The donated equipment included 1 600 radios to be deployed to most vulnerable communities.
The equipment would be used for communication purposes.
Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Wang Ping said the donated equipment would enable the Meteorological Services Department to process data from Chinese satellite systems.
“The equipment that we donate today is able to receive and process data from the Chinese satellite thus helping the department with early warnings on weather disaster as well as more accurate weather forecasts,” he said.
“In addition to the equipment we will also provide relevant training to Zimbabwean staff. We believe the country will be able to cope with the impact of climate change from today on.”