SIX suspects were recently arrested for poaching indigenous Mupani trees on commercial scale after allegedly greasing the palms of a greedy traditional leader in Chipinge South.The six suspects, including Mozambicans and locals from Mahenye area in Chipinge, were arrested after being caught red-handed cutting and exporting Mupani logs to the neighbouring country, from where they are shipped to foreign markets at lucrative prices.
Mupani tree poaching was rife on the Mozambican side until the forests were depleted, forcing the poachers to cross into Mahenye, where there are vast tracts of the indigenous trees that are jealously protected by the community.
To gain unlimited access to the indigenous trees, the poachers allegedly greased the palms of Chief Mahenye.They are using chainsaws to cut down the trees, excavators, tractors and heavy trucks to ferry the logs into Mozambique through illegal routes.
Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe spokesperson, Mrs Violet Makoto, confirmed the rampant poaching of timber for commercial purposes and the arrest of the six poachers.Mrs Makoto said they have since engaged Chief Mahenye and enlightened him on what the law dictates in relation to conservation of natural resources.
“We are very much aware of those activities in Mahenye area of Chipinge. We have serious cases of timber poaching and tree cutting there. Our local officers have been on that issue for a long time, and particularly concerning is that there is a traditional leader who claims to have authority to sell firewood.
“We have approached the leader, and explained to him what the statutes say pertaining to the issue of tree cutting and commercialisation of forest produce in general,” she said.
“We are working with him so that he understands that he has to work with us in protecting the natural resources under his jurisdiction. We are carrying out blitz across the country targeting the hotspots, and Chipinge has become one of these hotspots,” she said.
Mrs Makoto said their forests protection unit is still on the ground monitoring the situation to bring to book all perpetrators.
“According to Forest Produce Act, Chapter 19:04, it is illegal to commercialise forest produce, including timber. Six people were arrested in Chipinge, some of them were foreigners from Mozambique.
“In Mahenye, Itai Makumbe from Mozambique, said he had permission to cut timber from the said traditional leader, and was fined US$2 000,” said Mrs Makoto.
Chief Mahenye, born Mr Thomas Jojo, at first vehemently denied any knowledge of the poaching and his involvement in the tree poaching scandal.
He later confirmed the arrests, but denied his involvement.
“I have not received a bribe from anyone, and those who were cutting down the trees were arrested for illegally crossing into Zimbabwe. They were taken to Chisumbanje Police Station where they were made to pay fines. I went to see them when they were arrested, and they later showed me the area that they were poaching the trees. Their excavator and tractor were confiscated by the State,” said Chief Mahenye.
