admin
THE timber industry is in a depressing state and players in the sector must come together and revive dying plantations, a Cabinet minister has said.
Addressing members of the Timber Producers’ Federation in Mutare last Wednesday, Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Cde Saviour Kasukuwere said plantations in the Eastern Highlands were fast becoming deserts.
He said most companies were just harvesting timber without investing anything to plant more trees.
“Manicaland is the hub of the timber industry in the country, but the situation at hand is depressing. We need to up our act and ensure that the industry survives. The forests are no longer there. It’s a painful sight and we have to be more committed to restore it.
“If we do not come together and find each other there is no way we are going to win,” he said.
Cde Kasukuwere said sterner measures should be taken against illegal settlers invading timber estates and causing veld fires when clearing land for occupation.
“We say no to illegal settlers. You cannot allocate yourself land in timber estates. If you are doing that you are a criminal and criminals are reported to the police, taken to the courts and jailed at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.”
Players in the industry, especially Allied Timbers Zimbabwe, complained of illegal settlers who have occupied vast tracts of land thereby negatively affecting operations on the estates.
Government, said Cde Kasukuwere, was expecting to get its dividends from State-linked companies that are into timber production.
“Government wants its dividends from State-linked companies and the honeymoon is over. We are not seeing our share as Government and we need to be paid because we are shareholders in those companies.”
The minister also bemoaned the closure of the Mutare Board and Paper Mills which used to employ thousands in the eastern border city.
“What happened to MPBM? I grew up here and the company employed a lot of people. Right now we are importing paper we used to produce here in the city. What will become of our economy if we close companies and create jobs outside the country? We need answers.
“As a sector you should plan and ensure that companies like MBPM are brought back to life. You have to move as a block and work harder to achieve such goals.” The meeting was attended by top officials with Allied Timbers Zimbabwe, MBPM, Wattle Company of Zimbabwe, Small Timber Producers, Border Timbers and other players in the sector.
Online Reporter