Online Reporter
Precious Manomano
Online Reporter
As Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector continues its transition towards sustainability, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has launched a robust fire prevention campaign to safeguard expanding tree woodlots.
These efforts follow the national launch of the 2025 Fire Season on May 8 under the theme “Prevent Veld Fires – Protect Our Environment”.
The campaign kicked off on Friday May 30, 2025 in Mvurwi, Mashonaland Central Province, one of Zimbabwe’s key tobacco-growing regions, where TIMB’s Sustainability Unit and its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) officers are leading practical training sessions.
The goal is to reduce the growing threat of veld fires, which pose a serious risk to the country’s ambitious afforestation initiatives.
In recent years, Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry has made significant progress in promoting afforestation through the establishment of fast-growing tree woodlots to ease pressure on indigenous forests.
These plantations form a vital part of the sustainable wood supply to be used in the future for tobacco curing.
However, the flammable nature of these fast-growing tree species has made fire prevention a critical component of long-term sustainability efforts.
Recognising the urgency of the fire threat, TIMB has begun rolling out regional campaigns across Zimbabwe’s four tobacco-growing provinces: Manicaland and Mashonaland West, East and Central.
The trainings being conducted focus on fire preparedness, fuel load assessments, firebreak inspections and early detection strategies.
Tobacco farmers and community members are being equipped with the knowledge and tools to respond effectively to fire risks, particularly in areas with established or developing woodlots.
TIMB acting chief executive, Mr Emmanuel Matsvaire, said the afforestation gains must be protected if people realise a greener and more resilient tobacco industry.
“It’s not enough to plant trees, we must ensure they survive. And that means taking veld fire management seriously,” he said.
These fire management initiatives are aligned with broader sustainability efforts being driven by the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan and Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
TIMB has also recently committed to the Diplomatic Green Legacy Tree Planting Programme, a nationwide campaign launched at the Institute of African Knowledge (INSTAK) in Harare.
As part of this initiative, TIMB is promoting the planting of fast-growing, indigenous, and fruit-bearing trees across all tobacco-producing regions in the country.
Beyond environmental protection, the afforestation programmes are also helping rural communities improve livelihoods by offering alternative income streams and enhancing biodiversity.
Tree planting efforts are further supported by the Board’s ongoing commitment to climate-smart agriculture and rural resilience.
With the fire season now upon Zimbabwe, TIMB is urging all tobacco growers to take proactive measures to protect their woodlots, including maintaining fireguards, clearing dry grass and biomass, and preparing community response systems.
Mr Matsvaire also said each woodlot represents not only a source of fuel but an investment in the future of both individual farmers and the nation’s economy.
“We are not only protecting trees. We are protecting Zimbabwe’s future, one woodlot at a time,” he said.
