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 Over Sh90 million(Approximately 70,000 USD)was raised yesterday in Dar es Salaam in a charity walk to raise funds for environmental conservation.
The Dar Rotary Walk 2009, organised by rotary clubs in Dar es Salaam and Bank M, had targeted to raise Sh75 million(Approximately 57,000 USD), organisers said in a statement.
Former President Ali Hassan Mwinyi was the chief guest in the 8 km walk. The proceeds are meant to, among other things, fund the planting of 100,000 trees across the country.
"We are very delighted to see a huge number of people participating in this cause not by just walking, but also contributing significantly.
We believe that by working together we will achieve our collective goal and responsibility of protecting and conserving our environment," organising committee chairperson Sharmila Bhatt noted in the statement.
Ms Bhatt said the drive would be a considerable contribution by Tanzania to UNEP's Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign, initiative launched in 2006. The initiative seeks to curb deforestation by adapting tree planting as a cost-effective way of dealing with climate change.
Mr Mwinyi commended the rotary fraternity for its active involvement in community development projects, not only in Tanzania but also in other parts of the world.
He said the tree-planting scheme was a positive move that should be emulated by other organisations for the betterment of life and conservation of the environment.
Bank M board of directors chairman Nimrod Mkono said the bank would continue supporting similar endeavours as part of its corporate social responsibility obligation.
He challenged the authorities to incorporate environmental education in curricula at all levels as a way of ensuring that society was proactively involved in conservation efforts.
Other major sponsors of the event included Holtan (EA), Nabaki Africa, Exim Bank and Soft-Tech Group
Credit: The Citizen - Tanzania
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