VICTORIA FALLS GREEN FUND LAUNCH

Here is an excerpt of the speech given at the launch by the VFGF Chairman, Robin Brown.

Environment Africa have been integral in setting up the Victoria Falls Green Fund and indeed form the secretariat for our board of trustees, and through Namo Chuma, who leads the EA team here in Victoria Falls, they chair the implementation body of the Green Fund via the Green Fund Projects Committee.  As I sit with Namo on this projects committee, I have experienced first hand the dynamics of this new but energetic team, which forms a parternship of private sector and local government.  The projects committee will work with 14 action teams through the various council wards of Victoria Falls and these teams will form the implementation arm of the Green Fund.  They will also be encouraged to bring foward proposals for recycling plants, waste management systems, clean ups and so forth, for which the funds raised in our Green Fund trust will be utilised.  These action teams are currently being set up by our councillors and I would encourage our residents, business owners and stakeholders in Victoria Falls to please give these teams the support they need. We will be looking at each area separately to encourage a level of light competitiveness and look forward to nice clean results!

The timing of the set up of this Victoria Falls Green Fund is no coincidence.  We have come through hard times and I am afraid it is apparent in the state of our town.  We need to gather our resolve and stop further deterioration in the environmental state of Victoria Falls.  We realise that we cannot just solve the smaller issues such as rubbish dumping, drains and so forth - albeit that they are not small issues and we absolutely must solve them.  However it is vital for us to work together and tackle the larger problems as well.  We have sewage collection, transfer and management problems; road maintenance; rubbish collection, transport and management issues, amongst many more.  In order to resolve these large issues, we need buy in across all sectors.

The Victoria Falls Green Fund will in 2010 be looking at a large scale solar development plan, whereby we will seek assistance from government and the World Bank through various regional NGO's to source funding in excess of $ 150 million.

We will also be looking carefully at our local schools to see how we can encourage more environmental awareness and education.

Ladies and gentlemen, the next few days will see the signing into implementation of the KAZA documents.  This will result in the linking up of an enormous wildlife dominated area.  The Victoria Falls will form a natural centre in this exciting development.

With the formation of the Victoria Falls Green Fund I will ask you, the stakeholders, to join us in setting an example to the larger KAZA area, and the world, that we are going to maintain our town and its beautiful environs for future generations!