Manzini Municipality’s Tree Planning Campaign Catches SADC’s Attention
…Over 30 youths from 7 SADC countries descend the city, participate in tree planting exercise
The Municipal Council of Manzini’s tree planting campaign, wherein the Municipality has set an ambitious goal to plant 500 trees in one financial year, has caught the attention of youths in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Last week Thursday the Municipality hosted a strong contingent of over 30 youths from seven SADC countries, namely; Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Lesotho and Zambia, who descended the City of Manzini to partake in the planting of trees. Leading the youths was the Eswatini National Youth Cooperative Alliance (ESNYCA). The Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs’ Forestry Department also contributed to the success of the tree planting event through a donation of over 100 indigenous trees. Welcoming the youths, His Lordship the Mayor of Manzini City, Councillor Quinton Els, expressed gratitude to the visiting youths and mentioned how excited the Municipality was seeing the youth from different countries coming together to contribute towards realization of 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and 13 (Climate Action). The Mayor mentioned that the 500 trees that the Municipality had set out to plant in the city within a year was in addition to over 400 trees that had already been planted in the city since the year 2015.
The Mayor made a special note of the fact that the visitors were youths; adding that such spoke volumes about the level of awareness amongst the youth on the importance of protecting the environment for the benefit of future generations. He thanked the youth and motivated them by quoting Franklin D. Roosevelt; “a nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people”. He further stated that it was common knowledge globally that cities, because of industrialization, were one of the contributors to the carbon footprint hence it made sense of them to take the lead and be in the forefront in the fight against climate change. The trees that were planted in strategic areas around the city were indigenous and were going to serve as wind breakers, shade, and decorative trees; ultimately in an endeavor to fight climate change. According to ESNYCA, youth cooperators in the country and the SADC region, had been closely following media reports about the City of Manzini’s massive tree planting campaign and they deemed it prudent to join hands towards realization of the goal. They stated that the Municipality’s tree campaign resonated with their “GO GREEN CAMPAIGN” which was also aimed at fighting climate change through planting of trees.
Information gathered is that the GO GREEN CAMPAIGN was initiated by ICA- Asia and Pacific Committee on Youth Cooperation (ICYC) IN 2018 so that the youth (35 years old and below) could take part in combating the global threat that climate change poses on future generations. It is based on the belief and cooperative value of ‘self-help and solidarity’ that youth and cooperatives can be a part of whilst sustaining their environment. It is fulfilling seeing young people taking the front seat in matters of global warming and climate change. Seeing them in their numbers coming together to save mother earth is exhilarating as it gives one hope that the future is in the right hands. Planet earth has endured quite a lot of unforeseen and excruciating circumstances from human beings, from industrial to domestic pollutants. The least that each and every individual can do is to partake in activities that helps to restore mother earth and ensure that the future generation finds her in one piece.
…THE FESTIVE IS HERE. PERFECT TIME TO EXPLORE MANZINI’S TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
…Municipality supports ETA’s #myeswatini,myholiday Challenge
With the festive season having already kicked in, the Municipal Council of Manzini, together with Eswatini Tourism Authority (ETA), encourages Emaswati and visitors from other countries to make it a point that they visit and explore the City of Manzini’s tourist attractions as part of a means to unwind and relax after a long year. The Municipality entered into a partnership with ETA in 2019; the purpose of which was to promote tourism in the city whilst also contributing to the city’s local economic development. The Municipality would like to see the city’s tourism industry flourish and as many citizens as possible reaping the socio-economic benefits thereof. However, it all begins with the local people taking the lead in supporting the industry through what is referred to as domestic tourism. The industry includes accommodation, adventure and recreation, attractions, events and conferences, food and beverages, tourism services, transportation and travel trade; all of which exist in the city but have not been fully tapped into and promoted. The Municipality fully supports ETA’s recently launched #myeswatini, myholiday top ten challenge and encourages citizens, both from the city and outside the urban area, to participate in the challenge. All one is required to do is to draw a list of ten places of interest that they wish to visit and visit at least five places on the list. When they reach their destination, spend at least E250 then take a picture and post the receipt/till slip and themselves on ETA’s social media platforms.
The following are some of the fantastic places that can be considered as one creates their to-visit list; as advised by one of the city’s tour operators Bush Travel & Tours;
- Adventure and recreation:
- Manzini Club and Golf Course
- Manzini City Tour
- Mavuso Sports Centre
- Many more
- Attractions:
- Manzini Main Market
- Manzini Trade Hub
- King Bhunu’ s Trial Site (near LaMvelase Clinic)
- The old stone Church Museum (within Manzini Nazarene Mission)
- Somhlolo Statue & Park (King Somhlolo Park)
- #43 Trelawney Park – KwaMagogo
- Many more
- Events and conferences:
- The George Hotel
- Mavuso Sports Centre
- Global Village Guest House
- OpenHouse Boutique
- Asante Guest House
- Many more
- Food and Beverages:
- The Bush Pizzeria (within Manzini Nazarene Mission)
- Gil Vicente
- Lifestyle Centre Food Court
- Lounge
- Riverstone Mall Food Court
- Waffles Palace
- Many more
- Entertainment:
- Julios Cinelux Cinema (within Manzini Lifestyle Centre)
- Emgcwembeni Braai and Restaurant (Fairview North)
- The Vibe (Ngwane Park)
- The Xchange Lounge & Shisanyama (Ngwane Park)
- Many more
- Tourism services:
- Bush Travel & Tours
- The George Hotel
- Many more
- Accommodation:
- The George Hotel
- The Park Hotel
- Global Village Guest House
- The OpenHouse Boutique
- And many more guesthouses in the neighbourhoods
- Shopping
- Bhunu Mall
- Manzini Lifestyle Centre
- Moneni Shopping Centre
- Cardo Square Centre (Ngwane Park)
- Riverstone Mall
- Sivuno House
- The Hub
- Manzini Trade Hub (near Zakhele Remand Centre traffic lights)
- Manzini Main Market
- Dobha Phansi second hand clothing site
- Many more
- Transportation:
- Emahlanti Tours
- Pro Shuttle
- Many more