Women’s organization in anti-deforestation drive

Tracy Moyo

VICTORIA FALLS – A local non-governmental organization is embarking on a conservation initiative aimed at capacitating women to reduce cutting down of trees for firewood thereby curtailing deforestation.

Siyazama Women’s Group is working hand in glove with an environment-centred organization called Enviro-watch  to reduce deforestation in Victoria Falls and its vicinity. The project also aims to save lives by discouraging residents from going on tree cutting expeditions  in the bushes and risking attacks from ubiquitous wildlife such as elephants.

The conservation program was launched in March 2019 following the death of a member of the community who was found dead in a forest. The community member had gone out to fetch firewood.

Ward 11  Councilor,  Edmore Zhou said at the height of the  the search for the deceased, women conspicuously constituted the majority of the search party because the bushes seemed familiar territory for them owing to their firewood forays Tony.

“During  the search for the the late Bhebhe, I noticed that most of the members of the community present were women and they had a lot of insight and ideas about where his body could be found. These women are frequent visitors of the woods and they seemed to expertly know their way around the bushes,” he said.

Councillor Zhou was later approached by Enviro-Watch to capacitate the women by imparting knowledge on ways to combat the scourge of deforestation.

As a measure taken against the depletion of trees, the women were introduced to an open fire method, a  better wood conserving fire method called the ‘rocket stove.

“A rocket stove has three openings, inlet, outlet and air ventilators. According to Zhou, “It is better than a brazier in that it saves fire wood by using fire wood chips and is wide open.”

Chair of Enviro-Watch, Mr Tony Peel said if piloted successfully, the rocket stove would be recommended for wider use in the city.  He added that members of the Siyazama Women’s Group will be granted Forestry Commission permits and their only source of firewood would be the Commission.

“If the stove proves to be a success we will push for its adoption by the city’s wider population. These women may then qualify for Forestry Commission permits, meaning they will only get their fire wood from the Commission and therefore minimize human and wildlife conflict that puts lives at risk,” said Peel.

Khethani Phiri, the Acting Chairperson of Siyazama Women’s Group said she appreciates the noble conservation initiative that is set to bring sanity in the city. She revealed that before the introduction of the initiative, members of her organization fought endless running battles with authorities as they engaged in firewood poaching.

“Some of us have been arrested by the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit as well as Zimparks but couldn’t stop the illegal activities because we had nothing else to fall back on. Firewood is both a source of income and energy for our domestic use. The rocket stove is set to revolutionise the energy sector and we are excited and grateful about the invention,” she said.