BY OBERT SIAMILANDU/STEPHEN CHADENGA Chief Bunina Chisadza has bemoaned rampant deforestation and environmental degradation in Lower Gweru.
He said most of the culprits were illegal firewood traders from Gweru.
“We are concerned over the rate at which we are losing our environment, especially forests. This is worrisome and needs the attention of every stakeholder in the district,” Chief Chisadza said.
Gweru Environmental Management Agency (Ema) district officer Timothy Nyoka urged youth to be involved in environmental conservation programmes.
He said this last week during Eco Club World Environment Day commemorations at Maboleni.
“Youths should be the leaders in conservation,” Nyoka said.
Deforestation and woodland degradation have been issues of great concern in Zimbabwe.
Debate on these issues has identified a number of causes of deforestation, which include expansion of arable land, and the demand for fuel-wood and construction poles for urban expansion.
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In 2010, Gweru had 7 320 hectares of tree cover, extending over 1,2% of its land area.
In 2021, it lost 22,7 hectares of the tree cover.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated matter, police in Gweru have expressed concern over the increase in vehicle thefts at residents’ homes at night.
Last Saturday, Blessing Moyomutsva (27) lost his vehicle to thieves at his Ascot home.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko yesterday said: “Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating a case of theft of a Honda Fit motor vehicle registration number ADQ2368 which was parked in a yard at Ascot suburb.
“On June 10 at around 2300 hours Blessing Moyomutsva of Ascot Infill in Gweru parked his car in the yard before locking the doors. He retired to bed and woke up at around 0600 hours the following day only to discover that his vehicle had been stolen. We urge members of the public to ensure that their vehicles are always secured.”
Last November, a man from the same suburb woke up to find that his vehicle had vanished at his home despite locking the car.
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