BULAWAYO, Jul 8 (NewsDay Live) - National Tree Ambassador Never Bonde has pledged to set up two drug rehabilitation centres on land donated to him by the Bulawayo City Council and businessman Herbert Mtize.
Speaking at Mtize's 72nd birthday party, Bonde disclosed that council offered him land in Cowdray Park to plant trees and set up a drug rehabilitation centre.
He added that Mtize had also offered him land for a similar project.
“My relationship with Mtize has been that he has been in constant touch with my Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife so that he can partner us in tree planting to fight drug and substance abuse,’’ Bonde said.
“We applied for land at BCC to establish a rehabilitation centre. We have now been offered the place in Cowdray park. Mtize has offered to assist with the construction and the installationof a borehole."
“Mtize has also offered us with four hectares on his farm near Bulawayo to plant trees such as grapes and peaches and also build a drug rehabilitation centre.
“We want them (inmates) to grow these trees and generate income. We need indigenous trees as well. We want to plant more trees to preserve our environment,’’ he added.
Mtize confirmed that he has offered part of his farm to establish a drug rehabilitation centre.
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"Those involved in drug abuse must be offered an opportunity to embark on income-generating projects and become productive,’’Mtize said.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Affairs minister Judith Ncube said drug and substance abuse has become a national crisis, hence the need for collaboration to fight the scourge.
“If we do not put our heads together we will end up losing our future leaders including the business people. Mtize’s vision is broad, it needs partnering ,’’ Ncube said.
