“The traditional beehives, most of them located in the bushes, have been destroyed by the fires. Most of the farmers in this area will not harvest anything this year. A lot of trees that the bees visit have also been destroyed,” said Silas Mtisi, a bee keeper. He said most beehives in the area are made using traditional materials such as tree bark and indigenous tree logs and are therefore prone to fires. Another bee keeper, Melusi Dlomo said some farmers in the area were constructing fireguards to protect their hives.
He also expressed concern over increasingly cases of honey theft by honey dealers who sell the product in Bulawayo and other cities. Bee-keeping is a thriving business which sustains many households throughout Matabeleland.