Chiefs roped in to save timber plantations
THE timber industry is a key driver of economic growth and players in the sector should involve traditional leaders as strategic partners to ensure sustainable management of plantations and eradicate a myriad of challenges bedevilling the sector in Manicaland.
This was said by Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza while addressing guests during an Allied Timbers Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd annual luncheon with traditional leaders on Tuesday.
It emerged during the luncheon that 958 hectares of the company’s plantations were this year destroyed by veld fires, theft, illegal settlement and mining, among other social ills that can be tackled with the involvement of traditional leaders, among other stakeholders.
According to research, settlement expansion is orchestrating the depletion in forest resources, followed by agriculture expansion, firewood and tobacco curing.
For timber plantations in Manicaland, more than 40 000ha have been lost to illegal settlers over the past decade, curtailing any moves to grow the sector by industry players.
The situation was exacerbated by the harsh effects of Cyclone Idai which destroyed a significant chunk of timber plantations in Chimanimani.
Minister Mugadza said the provincial Gross Domestic Product (GDP) can be increased if the sector ramps up production and value addition of its timber products.
“We are gathered here because we have one thing in common — the availability of timber plantations established by Allied Timbers in your areas of jurisdiction. Timber is one of the major economic drivers in the country, and especially in Manicaland, and it is incumbent upon us to support this industry for the economic growth of our nation.
“I would like to applaud work being done by the company in various communities around Manicaland. Allied Timbers is a Stateowned company established to produce timber to meet, both domestic and international markets demand. At the domestic market level, they are tremendously assisting in the development of our communities and the nation at large,” he said.
As part of its social corporate responsibility, the company was commended for donating treated poles for the construction of communal dip tanks in
Chief Mutambara’s area and bee hives for apiculture project in all the seven districts in Manicaland.
“Communities around the estates need to have a sense of ownership. It is easy for a community to listen to a traditional leader than an organisation. If the plantations are continuously destroyed by fire, it means that there will be no timber to talk about very soon and their capacity to contribute to the development of our communities will definitely be hindered. We rely on Allied Timbers for employment and assistance on other social issues due to the cordial relationship between you and the company. The forestry industry has to be protected and this needs collective efforts to achieve that.
“I challenge you to put a stop to illegal invasions, illegal gold mining, fire and timber poaching among other social ills by campaigning against these detrimental challenges in your communities,” he said.
Allied Timbers’ chief executive officer, Mr Remigio Nenzou said 958ha of timber were damaged by veld fires in Manicaland.
“It is not a secret that fire is a thorn in our flesh.
“This year alone, 958ha were damaged by fire — as follows: Chisengu 343ha; Gwendingwe 178ha; Tandai 200ha; Mutema 67ha and Nyangui 85ha.
“These numbers are giving us sleepless nights as we are losing our timber resource base. In 2021, through the Belarus Facility we acquired fire fighting equipment to tackle this problem, nevertheless, this has brought little relief as we are unable to fully respond to fire outbreaks.
“In addition, illegal settlers who are currently occupying 14 000ha of our plantations, and timber poachers continue to be a headache for us.
“If estates are razed down due to fires or other disruptions by communities who are scoundrels, it also means that there is no timber to talk about and no Allied Timbers to benefit from. We implore you as chiefs to campaign against invasions, fire outbreaks and other social ills like gold panning,” he said.