Jacarandas cut after top cop killed, Hre

via Jacarandas cut after top cop killed, Hre – NewZimbabwe 31/12/2015

HARARE has embarked on a massive tree cutting and trimming exercise less than 24 hours after the burial of ZRP Senior Assistant Commissioner Shadreck Mubaiwa.

The officer succumbed to injuries sustained after a tree fell on his vehicle last week.

Council has however, denied the campaign was triggered by the unfortunate incident, saying it has been on-going exercise throughout the year.

Mubaiwa’s Ford Ranger was hit by a falling branch along Borrowdale Road last week. The officer sustained serious head injuries that led to his death last Saturday.

Speaking to journalists Wednesday, council spokesperson Michael Chideme told journalists the tree which killed to police officer belonged to a private property and not the City Council.

“The exercise is not a reaction to the recent unfortunate incident but has been enhanced throughout the year and the process of identifying trees that need to be trimmed or uprooted is complete,” Chideme said.

He added, “Over 10,000 trees stretching for more than 5,500 km in Harare require trimming and replacement as this exercise started long back before the incident.”

Chideme said Harare property owners who want to have their trees trimmed or cut should approach council’s district offices for further information on the service which would be rendered at their own cost.

City parks officer, Godfrey Munetsi, said the uprooted Jacaranda and Cypress trees would be replaced by Superthodia trees along main roads such as Josiah Tongogara Avenue and Sam Nujoma Street.

So far Remembrance Drive, Rotten Row, Princess Road, Herbert Chitepo Avenue (near Harare Gardens) and David Livingstone Avenue have been covered.

Munetsi urged road users to bear with council workers during the exercise which is only 60% complete.

The exercise is mainly targeting old trees which are 50-60 years old along major roads with high traffic volumes with the city centre complete.

“Some of the trees beautify the city and we should just maintain them as the case with the arch formed by Jacaranda trees along Leopold Takawira Street opposite Parirenyatwa Hospital,” said Munetsi.

Of late, some city residents have lost property worth thousands of dollars after old Jacaranda or Cypress trees fell on parked cars or even buildings.

Early this year, a woman died after an electric pole fell on her along Park Lane Street (between National Social Security Authority (NSSA) offices and the National Arts Gallery of Zimbabwe) as she moved towards Julius Nyerere Way.