The industry used to employ over 15,000 people. Marufu also cited massive brain drain as a major challenge impacting on the forestry industry, saying poor working conditions and low remuneration had forced skilled labour to leave en masse for countries such as South Africa and Botswana. “Illegal occupations of the forests have also impacted negatively on the sector,” he said. “The sector has not been adequately funded by government. There is a need for government to take bold steps to arrest the challenges destroying the sector.”
Once a thriving sector with over 160,000 hectares of planted forest, the figure has nosedived to below 90,000 hectares today.
“Forests contribute to food security through provision of food and incomes and protection of soils and water resources upon which agriculture depends. But unfortunately these resources are being lost at alarming rate of 330,000 hectares per year,” said Marufu.
Manicaland Provincial Administrator, Fungai Mbetsa, said the forestry companies and the Forestry Commission should not just blame illegal settlers for contributing to the decline of the sector, but should engage them in a meaningful dialogue “to get their side of the story”.
Post published in: News