ZIMBA District Administrative Officer Lishomwa Mwendabai has called on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to get involved in the fight against climate change especially in rural areas.

Mr Mwendabai observes that most NGOs have allegedly restricted their operations in urban areas, while people in rural areas were suffering from climate change for lack of knowledge. 

He claimed that as a result of ignorance on the causes of climate change, poverty has increased at household level.

Mr Mwendabai has further challenged the Civil Society Organisations in the country to consider spreading their operations in rural areas where he said their services are required the most.

Speaking during a stakeholder consultative meeting organised by Environment Africa, a local NGO operating in Zimba today, Mr Mwendabai welcomed both local and international organisations to take interest and invest their knowledge in the district.

He appealed to other NGOs to strive to serve rural areas in order to strike a balance by filling in the gap that allegedly exists between urban and rural areas.

Mr Mwendabai said investing in the district would help create jobs for the local people as well as contribute to the country’s economy.

He cited Zimba as a favourable destination for investment due to the good policies which the government has put in place.

“It’s prudent that both local and foreign NGOs supplement government’s efforts of developing this nation by taking keen interest in opening offices here in Zimba as opposed to just working in urban areas,” he said.

Mr Mwendabai commended Environment Africa, Care International and World Vision that are operating in Zimba by helping the government improve the livelihood of the people through agro-business, climate change mitigation strategies and education system.

“Our agenda for economic diversification as a district is anchored on mining, education, health, agriculture, fishery, water and sanitation as well as tourism which CSOs could tap from,” he said.

Meanwhile, Environment Africa Programmes Manager, Evas Kachepa, unveiled an activity budget of over K26 Million to benefit the people of Zimba in smart climate adaptation measures.

Ms Kachepa disclosed that the funds would go towards a 3 year project dubbed ‘Strengthening the resilience of children, youths and vulnerable groups affected by impacts of climate change.’

She disclosed that the project that is already in the second phase runs from November 2024 to October 2027.