Stanbic Bank and WWF Collaborate in Ambitious Effort to ‘Secure the Zambezi’ through Planting 10,000 Trees
Stanbic Bank Zambia Limited has partnered with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Zambia to plant 10,000 trees at the Zambezi River Source Area, emphasizing the crucial need to combat deforestation, address climate change, and safeguard the country’s economic future.
During the tree-planting event, Mr. Mwindwa Siakalima, Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank, stressed the urgency of involving more stakeholders in restoring the ecosystem around the Zambezi River Source Area.
He highlighted the environmental consequences of increased deforestation in recent years and expressed the bank’s commitment to tackling the devastating effects of climate change.
“The Let’s Secure the Zambezi campaign is a critical initiative under our CSR portfolio. It addresses the effects of climate change by restoring the damaged vegetation that sustains the mighty Zambezi River—a vital resource for our national economy,” said Mr. Siakalima.
The tree-planting effort is a continuation of last year’s campaign, aiming to restore the ecosystem to its original state. Mr. Siakalima called for additional support from interested parties to join the mission to “secure the Zambezi,” stressing the river’s importance as an economic lifeline supporting fishing, forestry, tourism, and hydro-power generation.
Tourism Permanent Secretary Evans Muhanga, the Guest of Honour, announced that the Zambezi River Source Area is poised to benefit from a portion of the $100 million credit granted by the World Bank. The credit aims to strengthen Zambia’s nature-based economy and create economic opportunities in emerging tourism destinations.
“This will make the place more attractive and enhance revenue collection, creating the jobs needed for our people here,” Mr. Muhanga stated. He commended Stanbic, WWF, and other partners for their role in restoring the area’s ecosystem.
Nachilala Nkombo, WWF Zambia Country Director, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, emphasizing the importance of thriving ecosystems in fostering prosperous communities. The Let’s Secure Zambezi initiative involves community tree planting and awareness activities to restore the source of the Zambezi.
