Natural Resources and livelihoods – inseparable paradox as arts and crafts soar in demand
Tawanda Muzamwese
Arts and crafts from Honde Valley in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe are a thriving source of livelihood for local communities. The beauty of nature and value added products emanating from natural products has been exploited by communities for decades. In a region like Africa, natural resources are a mainstay of the livelihoods of communities. Reliance on land, plants, water and natural raw materials continues to inspire creativity. Striking a balance between human needs and ecological balance is one of the biggest challenges of our time. A total elimination of the use of natural resources is theoretically asserted by die-hard environmentalists. However conservation and wise use is what is emerging as a realistic option. The crafts from the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, will continue to be amongst crafts and arts that the world marvels at. In the quest to adapt to climate change, communities should be creative to find other activities to support their livelihoods beyond the rain-fed agriculture. Diversification of income sources through arts and crafts is amongst one of the tacit ways to cope up with the environmental challenges of our time. Communities relying on arts and crafts must ensure that they balance use of natural resources and local socio-economic development.
Tawanda Collins Muzamwese is the Editor in Chief of the Green Business Gazette Magazine. He is is an international consultant in sustainable business development with massive experience in training, consulting and auditing. He has facilitated capacity development in more than 100 enterprises drawn from over 30 countries. He is the founder of the sustainability think-tank called Toxiconsol Consultancy t/a African Sustainability Consultants. He is the Editor in Chief of the Green Business Gazette Magazine. He is a consultant and business coach with over 13 years experience. Tawanda is a Management Systems Consultant working on promoting development and implementation of ISO Standards (ISO 14001:2015, ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018) in both developed and developing countries. With his inspirational and pragmatic writing style he has written cutting edge books including:
1) How to grow a Side-hustle into a viable business - Overcome Salary Dependency
2) The Leading Consultant: How become an authority in your professional field
3) Step-by-Step Guide to implementing Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Management Systems
4) Stepping on Higher Perspectives: Greatness Tips Motivational Series
5) Sustainability Guidebook for Boards and CEOs: Leading from the front
Tawanda writes about sustainability, motivation, safety, health, environment and quality management. His books are relevant to both developed and developing countries. With practical approaches and case studies, he provides incisive insights into entrepreneurship.
His philosophy is based on the premise that every human being has potential to make a significant difference in their lifetime. He writes books on taking personal responsibility for progression in life. He motivates entrepreneurs to implement income generating projects and determine their own financial destiny. He also motivates companies to take up sustainability initiatives.
A start-up coach, public speaker, environmentalist, safety, health and quality management expert, Muzamwese bridges the gap between theory and practice through building capacity and sharing practical case studies in his books.
