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Thupeyo Muleya-Beitbridge Bureau

Communities in the livestock-rich Beitbridge district have started embracing the use of biomass stoves which reduce reliance on firewood by 71 percent as a way of saving forests and pastures.

Most households in the area rely on livestock rearing related projects and of late the pastures have been depleting due to rampant cutting down of firewood and recurrent veld fires.

In the last drought, the district, which has over 200 000 cattle, lost more than 10 000 beasts due to poverty-related deaths.

Additionally, running battles have been raging between communities living close to Beitbridge town and the firewood poachers who cut fresh trees for resale in the urban settlement. Through the assistance of the Rangelands Regeneration Trust (RRT), villagers mostly in the Beitbridge West constituency have adopted the use of the stoves which require less firewood fuel.

The organisation has partnered with local authorities and communities on a broad range of initiatives to unlock the full potential of Beitbridge West and drive economic development.

RRT project coordinator, Mr Methuseli Mapala, said so far they have distributed 3 000 biomass stoves to households in wards 6, 7, 8, and 9.

“Community members spend a significant amount of time collecting firewood, and sometimes have to spend their earnings purchasing firewood or hiring scotch carts to collect firewood,” said Mr Mapala.

“The resulting deforestation is a challenge that impacts the natural capital, reduces biodiversity, and also leads to issues such as erosion and flash flooding.

“To address these challenges, and as part of interventions mitigating some of the negative impacts of establishing an Integrated Management Area or community conservancy, Rangelands Regeneration, is supporting the distribution of biomass cookstoves to every household in Wards 7, 8, and 9.”

Mr Mapala said the cook stoves required 70 percent less firewood than a three-stone fire and produce 80 percent fewer emissions.

They generate more heat, which means food can be cooked in less time.

In addition, he said, fewer smoke emissions mean that they are better for people’s health. It also means less labour is required to collect firewood.

“To date, approximately 3 000 cook stoves have been distributed, with 800 remaining cook stoves to be distributed in Ward 8 (Maramani) by early September,” said Mr Mapala.

“The project has been made possible through a partnership with the Beitbridge RDC and local authorities, including the Forestry Commission and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), as well as the support of Rangeland Regeneration’s partner NGO, My Trees Trust.” 

Ward 8 councillor, who is also the Beitbridge Rural District Council chairperson, Mr Luka Ndou, said the introduction of the biomass cookstoves was a timeous intervention.

He said firewood had become scarce in most areas in his ward which covers the Maramani communal lands, Shashe, Limpopo, and Jalukange.

The official said the local authorities with the help of other agencies were descending hard on those in the business of cutting down trees. 

“As a girl child, I am grateful for these cook stoves which require less firewood. Our situation here is becoming dire and most people travel for over 17 km just to get firewood,” said Miss Kethumetsi Mbedzi of Limpopo Area.

Mr Josiel Mbedzi of the Maramani area said the cookstoves had cut the costs of buying firewood for most low-income earners in the villages.

He said on average a load of firewood was being sold for between R200 and R300 deepening on one’s location.

Ideally, he said an average household uses one load from a donkey-pulled scotch cart for only 14 days. Most households in the area are made up of an average of five people.

Acting District Development Coordinator (DDC), Mr Gugulethu Moyo said; “This is a welcome development for the district, and if you look around some areas are becoming semi-deserts, so this initiative to serve the environment is very critical”.

Mrs Fidas Ncube of the Shashe area said the cookstoves were efficient and safe for use even by young children.