Staff Writer

Over 224 firewood poachers and charcoal dealers have been arrested countrywide as Government intensify efforts to curb the over exploitation of the country’s forests.

In a bid to bolster the deforestation efforts, the Forestry Commission has also temporarily suspended the issuance of firewood permits till October this year.

In a joint blitz with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and various Government agencies that started last month, FC says it seeks to enlist the help of traditional chiefs and local communities to save forests.

The Commission’s General Mananger Abednigo Marufu said the blitz on wood poachers comes amid a stark realization that offenders were taking advantage of the communities’ ignorance of the law.

“The FC issues a firewood permit which allows the holder to harvest a specified amount of firewood from a specified area and this permit can only be used once.

“During the blitz we have discovered that these permit holders were now using the permits to continuously harvest firewood from the same land.

“This temporary suspension of the issuance of firewood permits gives the blitz enough room to curb the poaching of forests as all permits that will be used within this period would have most likely already been used or expired.”

Mr Marufu said the most affected areas were Lupane, Masenyane and Matebeleland North.

“The over exploitation of the country’s forests for firewood and charcoal threatens the country’s forests, which could lead to desertification, especially in Matebeland north province where there is indiscriminate harvesting of indigenous trees.”

The threat to indigenous forests has become a larger problem due to the growing demand for charcoal.

Government has since directed that roadblocks targeting firewood poachers and charcoal dealers be mounted.

So far 223 tickets were issued valued at USD$6 967, 31 vehicles impounded for illegal movement of firewood, a total of 2 715 bags of charcoal recovered, among other related offences.