By Chantelle Tatenda Muzanenhamo
For Angela Dube, environmentalism and climate advocacy were never circumstantial, but a choice driven by passion. Her lifelong commitment to environmental conservation and climate advocacy began during her work-related learning at Plumtree Town Council.
Upon realising a gap in basic environmental conservation knowledge among residents, Angela decided to act to bridge this gap through environmental education and awareness campaigns.
During her work related learning in Plumtree, Angela was involved in clean up campaigns, environmental education, environmental inspections and tree planting, working closely with the Environmental Management Agency. This inspired her to establish a youth-led environmental organization, Environmental Friendly Friends Zimbabwe.
“During my internship, I worked under the Environmental Health and Safety Department and the Engineering Department. I witnessed firsthand how humans pollute and degrade the environment. I dedicated a significant portion of my internship to environmental education. Subsequently, I decided to establish a youth-led association to contribute to different communities,” she said.
She further explained that following her internship, she returned to school, putting the organization on hold, noting that she was the sole consistent member while others came and went. After completing university, she began seeking opportunities to further her organization’s growth.
Angela shared that she started conducting clean-up campaigns and interviewing people on the streets about environmental issues. She later met Nyasha Judith Matandi founder, Foundation and Enviro Vision, and Thubelihle Ndlovu from Green Zimbabwe, who shared their perspective on environmental education, and together they decided to conduct webinars, one of which—the International Carbon Credits Webinar—proved highly successful.
In nurturing her passion, Angela volunteered at Save Our Environment Trust, a non-profit organization based in Gweru that promotes environmental conservation. This experience helped her cultivate her leadership, community engagement, and environmental management expertise.
However, due to financial constraints, Angela had to relocate to Bulawayo. This setback did not deter her; instead, it opened up new opportunities.
“I was elected by Green Hut to lead their Bulawayo chapter, where I continue to volunteer. In Bulawayo, I met the director of the African Voluntary Carbon Credits Market Forum and requested to become a volunteer. Currently, I serve as the mobilizing officer for their radio program, which focuses on climate education,” Angela said.
Angela Dube currently works at LOVING Hand, an organization that supports orphans and individuals living with HIV and AIDS. She mentioned having the privilege of working with street children and those living on the streets in partnership with the Anglican community. Moreover, she expressed her intention to educate these individuals as her next goal.
Currently, Angela is pursuing her MSc in Climate Change and Sustainable Development at Lupane State University, reflecting her commitment to creating a sustainable future for the people of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the same institution.
Her work supporting vulnerable groups and children underscores her dedication to environmental protection. This makes her a compassionate and passionate advocate and educator for positive change in Bulawayo.
