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Thupeyo Muleya , Beitbridge Bureau
THE Forestry Commission has launched a blitz against firewood poachers in Beitbridge where cutting down of indigenous trees is common, especially in villages within a 40km radius of the border  town.

Beitbridge District Forestry Officer, Mr Zibusiso Ndlovu said they had enlisted the services of the district’s natural resource committee whose members are drawn from the police, the Environmental Management Agency (Ema), Agritex, Beitbridge Rural District Council, traditional leaders and local politicians including councillors and  legislators.

Mr Ndlovu said the blitz was launched on Monday last week and so far, 37 people among them businessmen who were running firewood poaching syndicates, have been arrested.

Trees are being cut down in villages that include Mtetengwe, Malala, Mzingwane, Makakavhule, Mathavha, Mapayi, Mawale, Lutumba, Tshamnanga, Tshibidzanani, Andrews, the Limpopo Rover, A1 farms, and Mapolovhele.

A load of firewood which is being sold in donkey pulled cart costs anything between R100 and R200 in the border town.

The syndicates are accused of cutting down mopani trees dominant in the  district.

“According to our estimates, a total of 90 tonnes of firewood illegally extracted is being consumed in the border town daily through both domestic and commercial use,” he                                                                                                                            said.

“After noting an increase in such activities, we then roped in other stakeholders and the impact on the ground so far is massive. We are targeting businesses and individuals operating at hot spot areas mostly at business centres in the western suburbs, medium density and those operating from the central business  district”.

He said those being arrested were being charged for “wrongful possession of firewood” as well as “extracting and moving and selling timber and firewood without a licence”.

Mr Ndlovu said after the blitz, they were looking at registering between 10 and 25 firewood traders in Beitbridge town.

He said this will enable them to measure the exact amount of firewood consumed by the town’s populace. — @Tupeyo.