adminTHE craving for sweetness led some unscrupulous villagers on a honey poaching expedition in Matobo District to start a veld fire which went on to destroy a substantial portion of the eco-system at the world acclaimed Matopos National Park last Wednesday.
Matopos National Park area manager Mrs Sharon Musakwa confirmed the fire that started at the sanctuary’s White Water area but could not state its cause. She said however, it was likely to have been started by honey poachers.
“The fire started yesterday (Wednesday) but we don’t know what really caused it but we suspect that it was caused by honey poachers. Honey poaching is rampant at the park and on many occasions these unruly elements are the ones that are responsible for starting veld fires. We were alerted to the fire by villagers and at the moment we can’t establish the hectarage which it has destroyed since it is still raging,” said Mrs Musakwa at a Natural Resources Management meeting organised by Forestry Commission at Maphisa Growth Point on Thursday.
Honey poachers use smoke to disorient or calm bees, leaving behind glowing charcoal which later ignites dry vegetation on the ground resulting in veld fires. Established in 1953, the park was awarded United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation World Heritage Status in June 2003. The park includes an Intensive Protection Zone where a large population of black and white rhinoceros are successfully breeding.
The park offers a diverse package of tourist attractions and activities and is also the site of the grave of Cecil John Rhodes.
Contacted for a comment yesterday, Environmental Management Agency Matabeleland South provincial manager Mrs Sithembisiwe Ndlovu confirmed the incident but said there were no deaths of large animals.
“We have received reports of a fire which started at White Water but we are still waiting for results of the final assessment to determine the amount of damage as the fire has since been put out. We didn’t receive any death reports of big animals but in any eco-system there are so many organisms thus some were killed or destroyed,” Mrs Ndlovu said.
Chief Nyangazonke said the perennial veld fires were a result of failure by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority’s officials to recognise and realise the importance of communities as major stakeholders in preserving the park’s natural resources.
“Parks officials hardly have time to interact with us as chiefs. We just see them moving around in top of the range vehicles. They make our subjects pay for the cattle that might have strayed into the park as well as cutting thatching grass and as a result of this there is animosity between them and villagers. The villagers have adopted an attitude whereby they say let it burn, we don’t benefit from it and this is bad. We are aware that our people go into the park to set up snares to trap animals as well as poaching for honey. This can only be addressed if there is good rapport between the parks people and villagers,” he said.
Matobo Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Elvis Sibanda said perennial burning of the park might lead to the extinction of some wild species.
“It’s a cause for concern because the next generations might lose sight of an array of wildlife species at the park. Burning of the park also allows some of the animals to be exported from our district to other districts where they will be prone to poaching activities. There is a need for a good rapport between parks and the communities.”
Online Reporter