Poverty driving communities into illegal small-scale charcoal production

 Fairness Moyana

HWANGE – As the last rays of light disappear into the horizon signaling the day’s end, Joseph Shoko (not his real name) makes his way deep into the forest in rural Kasibo, Hwange district. He reaches his destination just as darkness completely envelops the surroundings. Armed with a torch and pitch fork he stops suddenly before what looks like a grave adorned with a heap of soil, stones, tree branches, leaves and grass. He meticulously inspects it before doing the same to six more using the glare of his torch. 

The process takes a daunting two hours to complete. He smiles in satisfaction. His efforts are about to pay off. Shoko, a farmer turned small-scale charcoal producer has joined many in his village now eking out a living from this illegal activity. 
Charcoal is a lightweight black carbon residue produced by strongly heating wood in minimal oxygen to remove all water and volatile constituents. Charcoal burns at a higher temperature than wood, with hardly a visible flame and releases almost nothing except carbon dioxide. Charcoal has been made by various methods through the use of traditional kilns. The logs are completely covered with soil and straw, allowing no air to enter. It must be lit by introducing some burning fuel into the chimney; the logs burn slowly and transform into charcoal in a period of 5 days’ burning. If the soil covering gets torn or cracked by fire, additional soil is placed on the cracks. 

Charcoal is used as a domestic fuel for cooking and heating and its its consumption is growing faster than firewood use. 
Constant power cuts and the rising cost of electricity being experienced across the country has given rise to demand for cheap alternative energy in the form of charcoal. Lack of proper social security to cushion rural folk against the economic effects of the Covid 19 pandemic has seen some communities in Hwange district resorting to small-scale charcoal production. This has led to the decimation of the mopane woodland and degradation of the environment as scores of villagers join the trade, which is done in the dead of the night. 

Though charcoal production is illegal in Zimbabwe, investigations have revealed that the practice is rife in areas of Nekabandama, Dinde, Madumabisa, Matetsi, Lukosi, Makwika, Chilanga, Mashala, Kasibo and Empumalanga.  While the Communal Land Forest Produce Act chapter 19:04 allows people to use all resources for household use, it however, criminalizes the commercialization of firewood or charcoal production. Furthermore, the Forest Act chapter 19:05 has instruments used to  regulate the use and trade in any forestry produce whereby violation of the law attracts a jail term of up to one year.

The mopane tree, which is indigenous, is the most favoured due to its abundance and its ability to burn at high temperatures. Mopane trees are mostly found in dry and arid places such as Hwange district where they thrive despite the low rainfall. However, though the mopane tree is abundant in the district it takes between 60-100 years for one to reach full maturity. 

Investigations showed that local producers sell a 50kg bag of charcoal for US$3-US$5 to mostly, truck drivers who in turn re-sell the product to merchants in Bulawayo, Gweru, Harare and other towns for US$5 a bucket.  
Shoko said he was forced into charcoal production after he lost his job at a lodge in Victoria Falls where he was employed as a general hand. 

“Covid 19 really affected us in the tourism industry as the prolonged closure of hotels led to the loss of jobs and ultimately livelihoods. I had no choice I have a family to look after. Poverty and lack of other livelihood options is what causes us to engage in charcoal production,” he said.

Charcoal production is a growing phenomenon which is now being used by rural households to mitigate economic shocks. People use charcoal to pay for their children’s school fees, transport costs health fees and food. Proceeds from charcoal are also used to fill up seasonal shortfalls during lean agriculture.

Experts say the cutting down of trees, which leads to deforestation is contributing to climate change. Demand for charcoal in urban areas has been increasing for years owing to power shortages and high cost.
It was noted that charcoal producers in areas such as Chilanga and Kasibo were practicing selective harvesting where large trees are felled around a big area and hurled by scotch cart. Charcoal also makes its way into the country through smuggling from Zambia and DRC. The large majority of charcoal is produced from trees cleared in farmland trees and bushes. 

Another villager from Chilanga who refused to be named said the quick rewards of charcoal production had drawn many especially the youths into the practice.

“Farming yields are depended on the season, when the rains don’t come as expected the produce is affected. Most of us are involved in charcoal production because the reward is instant. A charcoal producer can get into an arrangement with a charcoal merchant to get groceries in exchange for a certain number of bags at a set price,” he said.
The production of charcoal has become an important livelihood activity for many households and individuals as those in dire need of money are turning to production of charcoal for survival.

Truck drivers are a key link in charcoal production, linking up the producer with the consumer and allegedly reaping 80 percent of the profit from the charcoal production value chain. Though numerous roadblocks are currently visible across the country’s major roads, corruption and bribery of police officers ensure the smooth transportation of the product to its final destination. 

Greater Whange Residents Trust’s Fidelis Chima expressed concern over the growing activity, arguing that urgent action was required to avert the destruction of the environment. 

“It’s so sad that there is now a rise in the cutting of trees for the purposes of  charcoal. It is happening in places like Empumalanga, Sinderela, Makwika, Nekabandama, Deka  and so forth. We understand that the residents are trying to eke out a living but what should be known is that cutting down of trees should be done in a sustainable way, in a manner that takes into consideration the environmental effects. In Hwange, as it stands right now, we are having problems with the mushrooming of mines and now we have villagers who are cutting down trees indiscriminately. Definitely,it will seriously impact climate change. The law enforcement agencies should work hand in glove with institutions and residents associations in combating this,” said Chima.

Studies have identified charcoal production as one of the main drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Zimbabwe. Charcoal production generates toxic substances in solid, liquid and gaseous form such as tar, phenols, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxides.  

So serious and intense is the activity in Lubangwe area in Matetsi ward that when Community Podium visited the area, it was greeted by glaring deforestation evidence, a sign that the villagers had gone a gear up in the production of charcoal. Large areas where hundreds of Mopane trees once stood have now been reduced to bare ground littered in some areas with disused traditional kilns. Charcoal production hubs have been established in some areas where production has scaled up. Estimates show that it takes 4 tons of wet wood to produce one ton of charcoal. 

Chief Conservator, Armstrong Tembo said the district was infested with charcoal producers who were laying waste to the areas’ forests leaving the land bare and prone to natural disasters.

“Hwange district has become notorious for charcoal production. Charcoalization is prevelant in Matetsi, Mashala, Nekabandama and Change wards. As Forestry Commission together with other agencies that include EMA, Zimparks, ZPC, ZRP and Hwange RDC, we have been conducting a joint blitz in order to stem illegal activities. Covid 19 unfortunately tends to affect law-abiding citizens while criminals take advantage of the absence of law enforcers. Generally, with support from other agencies, patrols continue to be undertaken with plans to increase the blitz underway,” said Tembo.

He said since the launch of the blitz, they had issued 18 tickets for trading without a license, wrongful possession and tree cutting. The team had also confiscated 505 bags of charcoal and intercepted five 7-ton trucks loaded with firewood destined for Bulawayo.