Anesu Mamhute
CHIREDZI
–
Mopane forests in Chiredzi are disappearing fast due to the massive charcoal
business that is driving people to cut down the trees for sale in Harare and
elsewhere.
–
Mopane forests in Chiredzi are disappearing fast due to the massive charcoal
business that is driving people to cut down the trees for sale in Harare and
elsewhere.
Chiredzi District Administrator
(DA) Lovemore Chisema said most worrying was the fact the destruction was
happening under the watch of the Environmental Management Authority (Ema) which
seems unable to execute its mandate.
(DA) Lovemore Chisema said most worrying was the fact the destruction was
happening under the watch of the Environmental Management Authority (Ema) which
seems unable to execute its mandate.
In an interview, Chisema said Ema
had a duty to perform in terms of the powers given to it by the law, and
lamented that virtually nothing was being done to prevent the further
destruction of Mopani trees.
had a duty to perform in terms of the powers given to it by the law, and
lamented that virtually nothing was being done to prevent the further
destruction of Mopani trees.
“The commitment of the agency in
Chiredzi is very weak because they focus mainly on trivial issues and needless
penalties yet they fail to give prominence to issues of sustainable
conservation of resources. This is despite the fact that they have the power to
exercise their mandate,” said Chisema.
Chiredzi is very weak because they focus mainly on trivial issues and needless
penalties yet they fail to give prominence to issues of sustainable
conservation of resources. This is despite the fact that they have the power to
exercise their mandate,” said Chisema.
Ema is mandated to provide for
the sustainable management of resources, protection of the environment and
prevention of environmental degradation by the Ema Act, Chapter (20:27).
the sustainable management of resources, protection of the environment and
prevention of environmental degradation by the Ema Act, Chapter (20:27).
In 2018, the Civil Protection
Unit (CPU) which is chaired Chisema, challenged Ema to engage all stakeholders
to curb deforestation.
Unit (CPU) which is chaired Chisema, challenged Ema to engage all stakeholders
to curb deforestation.
Ema Chiredzi district officer,
Peter Mugodhi flatly refused to take any questions from TellZim News although
it is apparent that his office is doing nothing to protect the environment from
obvous threats.
Peter Mugodhi flatly refused to take any questions from TellZim News although
it is apparent that his office is doing nothing to protect the environment from
obvous threats.
The Mopane is an important tree
species of the savannah, providing nutritious animal feed in the dry Lowveld
and helping to prevent erosion.
species of the savannah, providing nutritious animal feed in the dry Lowveld
and helping to prevent erosion.
