This archive report was first published on 26 November 2019.
Charcoal Crisis in Zimbabwe ¶
As Zimbabwe grapples with its worst economic crisis in a decade, the country's residents are turning to charcoal for cooking, exacerbating the deforestation crisis.
Miller Chizema, an 82-year-old villager, expressed his dismay at the sight of freshly-cut logs in the forest near his home. The logs were arranged in preparation for burning into charcoal, a fuel substitute for Zimbabwe's energy shortages.
"It hurts to see forests decimated like this," Chizema said, highlighting the devastating impact of charcoal production on the country's forests.
According to Abednigo Marufu, general manager of the Zimbabwe Forestry Commission, the country is losing over 330,000 hectares of forest annually, equivalent to nearly half a million football pitches.
Marufu attributed the loss of forest cover to the lack of electricity and the need for people to feed themselves and heat their homes. However, he also noted that agriculture remains the primary driver of deforestation, with the controversial land reform programme launched in 2000 contributing to the surge in forest clearance.
Despite the law prohibiting charcoal production, the practice continues, with many farmers viewing wood as a free alternative to other options. Authorities face an enforcement conundrum, as charcoal production is outlawed but can be imported from neighboring countries with special permits.
Best Muchenje, the district's forestry officer, stated that deforestation was already a significant issue when he took office two years ago. However, the power crisis has worsened the situation, with the mopani tree becoming a target due to its hardness and quality charcoal production.
As the country struggles with unemployment and economic hardship, people are forced to resort to burning discarded plastic soft drink bottles for cooking. The government is caught in a dilemma, acknowledging the need for alternatives to electricity but also worrying about the impact on forests.
Nqobizitha Ndlovu, the newly-appointed minister for the environment and climate change, acknowledged the complexity of the issue, stating, "We worry about forests, but we also worry about human beings."
Miller Chizema, an 82-year-old villager, sits on a pile of felled logs from the indigenous Mopani tree in a forest clearing in Mhondoro Ngezi district, on November 1, 2019. PHOTO | JEKESAI NJIKIZANA | AFP
