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Sifelani Tsiko

Agric & Innovations Editor

Zimbabwe has ramped up efforts to tackle illicit trade in fuel wood and charcoal through a nationwide campaign to contain deforestation which is undermining efforts towards sustainable development.

Forestry Commission spokesperson Violet Makoto told The Herald recently that about 1 043 bags of charcoal were confiscated from illegal dealers of the commodity in Muzarabani district, north of the country, in a blitz spearheaded by her organisation and other key agencies.

During the operation, she said eight tickets were issued valued at US$1 950, while only US$200 was yet to be paid by the offenders.

“In Muzarabani district alone, we have so far seized 1 043 bags of charcoal,” said Makoto.

“In other parts of the country, the blitz started on Sunday with a multi-task agency team operating in Midlands and Matabeleland North provinces.

“The amount of charcoal seized will increase as we widen our operation to cover the major hotspots in the country.”

Two charcoal dealers from Harare were fined a total of US$1 300 after they were caught with a truckload of charcoal while other three villagers caught in the process of making charcoal in Chiwenga ward were fined $50 each.

Two other villagers who were found in possession of charcoal were fined US$100 each and had their charcoal confiscated.

“Muzarabani district has always been on our radar as a charcoal production hotspot,” said Makoto. 

“Locals are taking advantage of the area’s proximity to Mozambique and therefore lie that they are getting the product from the neighbouring country.

“The district has dense mopane woodlands that have been protecting fragile Kalahari sands and continued decimation of the forest resources can have devastating effects on the whole environment of the area.”

The Forestry Commission, said Makoto, was now putting in place a permanent patrol team in the district to control this illegal activity. Peak winter energy demands and the rolling out of power cuts in most parts of the country is driving up the deforestation of large tracts of forests as wood and charcoal become the main source of heating and cooking for the majority of the poor.

The illegal dealers sell a bag of charcoal for US$10 through syndicates and open markets in various parts of the country.

To stop the illicit trade in charcoal and fuel wood, the country has launched a nationwide blitz spearheaded by the Forestry Commission with support from the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Environmental Management Agency, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks), the police, local authorities and the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement.

Zimbabwe loses about 60 million trees — some 330 000 hectares of forests annually, according to the Forestry Commission.

Reliance on charcoal or firewood is highest in Africa and Asia, according to a 2018 report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, with some African cities almost entirely dependent on charcoal for cooking.

In Kinshasa, the capital of DR Congo, 90 percent of residents rely mainly on it, the report said.

Africa’s illegal charcoal trade is decimating fragile forest cover, raising huge environmental concerns over its sustainability.

Experts say charcoal making is increasing the loss of indigenous forests as well as land degradation. 

In 2020, more than 30 people were arrested and fined for trading in charcoal with 1,9 tonnes of charcoal confiscated.

Apart from charcoal from major hotspots in the country, some huge quantities are also illegally imported from Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi — some of the major charcoal producing countries in southern Africa.

 The major hotspots for fuel wood and charcoal production in Zimbabwe, include Muzarabani district in Mashonaland Central close to the border with Mozambique, Midlands, Mashonaland West and Matabeleland North provinces.

The Forestry Commission is still lobbying for tighter laws to curb the practice, proposing a mandatory jail term, instead of fines, which were not deterrent enough.

At present, anyone caught selling firewood and charcoal can receive a Level 7 fine for $59 or a year in jail.

The fines were reviewed upwards recently by the Government, but environmentalists still say these are not deterrent enough.

“We want a mandatory jail term rather than payment of fines,” said a Harare–based environmentalist.

 “Charcoal production is being done in areas with fragile soils and the bulk of indigenous trees. The trees are being wiped out and at this rate, these areas face the real threats of becoming deserts.

“We need to act and also open other energy options for the majority of the poor. Setting out punitive laws is good but the country has to make other sustainable energy options cheaper and accessible as well.”

The cutting of trees to sustain an illicit charcoal trade is so widespread in central, southern and eastern Africa amid fears that desertification is fast taking root.

A UN report estimated that the value of the charcoal export trade from Somalia to the Middle East and elsewhere — though banned — was worth over US$360 million per year.

Some 8,2 million trees were felled for charcoal between 2011 and 2017, according to UN figures.

 Environmentalists warned that if no action is taken to stem the unsustainable nature of the charcoal trade, desertification and land degradation will intensify, impacting negatively on the livelihoods of the poor.

Thermal, hydroelectric, fuel and gas power remain too expensive for many people in Africa.

Many families still run charcoal stoves to keep electricity bills down while many say solar energy technologies still remain expensive despite efforts to reduce duty and taxes.

“The fight against illicit charcoal making is complicated,” said Makoto.

 “Some people destroyed their charcoal packs before we confiscated them in Muzarabani. Some hide the charcoal while our teams move to other places.

“Many people also reportedly ran away when they saw our vehicles. Some charcoal dealers even fled into Mozambique with truckloads of charcoal.

“They study our movements and use mobile lines registered in Mozambique to communicate with other syndicates. They evade arrest as we are over-stretched and the areas on the border have no network coverage.”