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| Cross-Section of African CSO Leaders at Launch of PACJA Morocco |
It took twenty-two (22) days in the month of October
2014 to complete the race of about 70707km from Morocco to Zimbabwe.
What is at stake here, the Olympics, the
World Cup, Africa Cup of Nations torch or the visit
of King Mohamed VI to President Mugabe? You be the Judge!
If East Africa was involved in this race, you
can guess they will lift the gold medal but it was between the north and south
so it can't be it.
Well, this was the distance covered by the Morocco
Network on Climate Change (MNCC) at Marrakech on October 7, 2014 and Zimbabwe
Climate Change Coalition (ZCCC) on October 29, 2014 when the two national
chapters of PACJA were launched respectively.
What did the two nations have in common besides
been African countries- THE CHALLENGE OF
CLIMATE CHANGE!
It is no longer news that Africa remains a
vulnerable hotspot to climate change and its adverse impacts continues to derail
the development gains made by the continent in the past, present and even in the
near future if urgent actions are not taken. These actions have to be local and
global and every stakeholder has a part to play.
African civil society organizations are not
taken this challenge lightly. The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)
has over the years initiated the formation of national networks of CSOs across
Africa to champion the fight against climate change. It is against this
backdrop that the Alliance which operates in 45 African countries with over
1000 CSOs recently launched the Moroccan and Zimbabwean chapters of PACJA.
This is what the Ministers in charge of the
environment of the two countries say about this initiative:
"...the Moroccan government will continue tosupport climate civil society through effective collaborations with CSOs using
the credible platform already provided by the new PACJA chapter in Morocco" –H.E.
Ms. Hakima El Haite, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Energy, Mining, Water
and Environment , Morocco.
"Today, we launch the Zimbabwe Climate Change
Coalition and we hope they will carry the country's interests at heart, to
ensure sustainable development and moving towards low carbon growth and climate
resilient Pathway for the nation" –Hon. Saviour Kasukuwere, Honourable
Minister, Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate, Zimbabwe.
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