adminNduduzo Tshuma Senior Reporter
PARLIAMENTARIANS have called on government to declare Matabeleland South a disaster zone and raise $2,5 million to weed out the deadly Opuntia Fulgida or Cactus Rosea plant that has invaded the province.Debating on a motion by Zanu-PF legislator Cde Annastancia Ndlovu who is also chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Environment, Water, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, legislators said delayed action could result in the deadly plant spreading to other provinces.
Scientific findings reveal that the exotic plant sucks nutrients and destroys vegetation around it. It also affects livestock and causes total blindness if it pricks the eyes.
The plant has thorns that prick and injure livestock, resulting in substantial deaths.
Cde Ndlovu said the plant, an alien invasive species, had colonised about 3,000 hectares across six districts namely Beitbridge, Gwanda, Insiza, Bulilima, Mangwe and Matobo.
She said the worst affected districts, Gwanda and Beitbridge have seen the total area of pasture and arable land being reduced by 0,1 percent, equivalent to 2,355 hactares.
Cde Ndlovu said the weed has invaded 27 wards and severely affected the livelihoods of the 1,500 households in 50 villages.
An average family in Zimbabwe is made up of six meaning that more than 9,000 people could be affected by the plant.
Legislators said the weed kills palatable grass and other species reducing the grazing value of land to zero in most cases.
Cde Ndlovu said a total of 41 domestic animals, which included 21 goats, 16 cattle and four donkeys were injured as a result of contact with the plant.
Out of these, she said, 28 had eye injuries, resulting in total blindness, forcing farmers to sell or slaughter the animals. Livestock deaths from such injuries include four donkeys, 27 goats, 58 fowls and six dogs.
A research by a National University of Science and Technology (Nust) student, Buhle Francis has also shown that if the plant pricks human beings on their eyes, they become totally blind.
The House was also told that a headman in the province was hospitalised for two months after being pricked by the plant while a legislator, Nomalanga Ndlovu was struggling to get her daughter healed after being pricked.
Mutasa Central legislator Trevor Saruwaka said the deadly plant must be dealt with so that the people of Matabeleland South and other drier parts of the country where the plant is thriving get relief.
“The action required, because we want something that is practically possible, the amount of money being asked for by EMA is not a lot of money because we are talking of only $2, 5 million,” he said.
“This country, I think we have been reading in the newspapers of huge amounts of money that have been used unwisely, but we are saying the government must just mobilise $2,5 million.”
Mberengwa East legislator Cde Makhosini Hlongwane said the plant had negative impact on the economy of Matabeleland South that is hinged on cattle breeding and game ranching.
“I know Hon Speaker Sir, that when we have other epidemics like a malaria epidemic, we declare a state of emergency in order to intervene in a way that is robust in a way that coordinates various line ministries.
“I am asking myself, is this not one such epidemic situation, which we have to call for a state of emergency in that area so that the epidemic is declared a disaster and government intervenes by way of marshalling all resources in order to save the economy of Matabeleland South and other economies around that area,” said Cde Hlongwane.
MDC legislator Jasmine Toffa said the plant was like HIV.
“Where this plant invades, no other plant, like what was alluded to by the chairperson, is allowed to grow because it takes over. What it then does is that it then sucks the nutrients out of the ground and nothing can grow there,” Toffa said.
Zanu-PF legislator Cde Mandi Chimene said there was need to push the executive, particularly the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate to declare a national disaster because of this plant.
“Let us not wait for people to die so that we declare it a national disaster. Let us not wait until all the cattle are destroyed then we call for a disaster,” she said.
“We need to talk about these problems now because this plant will destroy indiscriminately, a number of people, animals and property will be destroyed.”
Buhera South legislator Cde Joseph Chinotimba called on government to take stern measures to fight Opuntia Fulgida saying it was going to spread to his constituency, which is a dry area.
“It will quickly spread at such a rate that we will not be able to eliminate it. We want to urge the government to fight this weed, this bush whilst it is still in Matabeleland before it spreads to other areas of the country,” he said.
Beitbridge West legislator Cde Metrine Mudau said some women in the area were using the plant as flowers to beautify their homes oblivious of its dangers.
“The government should act as quickly as possible. I know they might say, where do we get $2,5 million but they are getting money for other things and I must say in this House, they should get money to make sure we destroy this plant,” she said.
Online Reporter