TIMB to manage fund: Govt

The Zimbabwe government has defended its decision to transfer management of a tree planting program, funded from a 0,75 percent levy on tobacco sales, from the Forestry Commission to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB). Initially the government had mandated the Forestry Commission with management of the fund meant to replenish forest land destroyed by tobacco farmers who use firewood to cure their crop, but later moved it to the industry regulator.

Observers have queried why the TIMB was given charge of the afforestation program yet the Forestry Commission, which was established to spearhead a similar mandate, was there. However, the Government defended the decision saying the TIMB was best suited to manage it given its relationship with tobacco farmers.

“The intention there is to deal with the specific users of our trees who are the tobacco farmers. Whereas through the Forestry Commission you will be addressing the issue in a broad sense and you do not really make a major difference,” Agriculture Mechanisation and Irrigation Development acting permanent secretary Reston Muzamhindo said.

“TIMB has got a direct link with the farmers who are the major users of the trees in terms of the production of tobacco. So it was that relationship which we would want to exploit and make sure that we have a focused way of addressing the issue of tree planting.”

Muzamhindo said the government would closely monitor the way the money was utilised. According to the TIMB, the fund accumulated $14, 2 million between 2015 and 2016, while as of May this year $7. 9 million had been collected.

“I think there is need for us to concentrate tree planting in those areas which are depleting our forests because of tobacco because the beneficiaries of this levy have to be tobacco farming areas so it may be an issue of supervision. We take note and we will go and see how best we can supervise,” said Muzamhindo.

An estimated 300 000 hectares of forests are lost to deforestation every year, with tobacco farmers responsible for the loss of about 15 percent of that. – New Ziana.