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Runesu Gwidi Herald Correspondent
Traditional leaders in Bikita have come under fire for allowing the mushrooming of illegal settlements that are being blamed for deforestation as a result of rampant logging. Bikita Rural District Council (RDC) has since called traditional leaders to an indaba to discuss ways of combating deforestation.

There are fears that Bikita, once famed for its wetlands, might rapidly turn into a predominantly arid region.
Bikita’s chief executive Mr Peter Chibi last week expressed concern over wanton logging and illegal settlements.
He said council would duly engage traditional leaders over the issue.

“We will soon be meeting our traditional leaders from Bikita to apprise them about the implications of promoting the wanton cutting of trees and settlement of people in wetlands,” he said.

“We need to be clear with each other that something must be done to stop illegal settlements, otherwise the law will have to take its course.”

Mr Chibi said some traditional leaders seemed to be corruptly settling people on undesignated land.
“As a local authority, we would want to set the record straight and there are no sacred cows when we are talking about the threat posed by deforestation because of illegal settlement,” he said.

“We are strongly warning the traditional leaders that we will make a joint operation with the Environmental Management Agency to flush out the illegal settlers and fine them, together with authorities who would have settled them in prohibited areas.

“We will make sure all culprits pay the mandatory fine for cutting down trees.’’
Mr Chibi said uncontrolled logging has been continuing in Bikita despite campaigns by EMA to sensitise communities on the importance of preserving forests.

He said as custodians of culture, traditional leaders were supposed to be at the forefront of preserving forests.
Bikita RDC environmental management portfolio committee chairperson councillor Ishmael Kanjera cited Wards 15 and 21 as the worst affected by deforestation.

Cllr Kanjera said they lacked the political muscle to overturn decisions made by traditional leaders, a situation he said was hampering the war against deforestation.

There have been calls for Government to embark on wholesale eviction of illegally settled families in Bikita to stop the district’s gradual slide towards desertification.