THE forest and timber industry in Manicaland Province is key in the national economic development, and Government has put in place measures and polices to allow the sector’s further growth.
This was said by Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza during the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI)-organised timber industry inception paper workshop held in Mutare on Wednesday, where he acknowledged the industry’s contribution to environmental preservation, job creation and foreign currency generation.
The inception meeting was attended by delegates from Furniture Manufactures Association, Indigenous Hardwood Association, Timber Producers Federation, local authorities, Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe and Environmental Management Agency among other stakeholders.
“Plantation forests offer a number of goods and services to human kind. These include various timber products for construction, furniture, doors, boards, fencing, and electricity among other use. Plantation forests protect our water catchment areas against soil erosion and increased yield in our dams.
“I am informed that until recently, Zimbabwe has been self-sufficient in its timber requirements, mainly for construction and furniture manufacturing. However, the country is importing value added timber products such as manufactured boards, and soon it may be forced to import structural timber as there is a 10-year gap or so in the structure of our plantation forests.
“The timber industry employs over 4 000 direct employees, and a further estimated 3 000 indirectly in 2023. The industry is a significant contributor to exports, which in some years reaches US$50m. Unfortunately, in the last five years, timber exports have been on the decline because of various challenges, including those to do with competitiveness.
“Several factors are impacting on the viability and sustainability of the timber industry, with veld fires being one of the biggest culprits.
“During the last five years, the industry recorded fires that affected 6 000ha of planted trees, some which were young, and hence burnt beyond recovery.
“Unfortunately, disputes between stakeholders in the timber industry and plantation growers have seen a steep rise in arsonists who deliberately set fire on the forests, as a way of settling grievances. We say no to such economic sabotage, and encourage amicable settlement of disputes,” said Minister Mugadza.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries’ chief executive officer, Ms Sekai Kuvarika said the industry has a huge potential which should be unpacked and benefit the economy in terms of tax revenue and export earnings.
“We are working on an industry growth strategy and transformation agenda, setting targets in order to unpack, both the aspirational and potential growth possibilities in our industry as the private sector. We are starting with the timber industry, and looking at the whole value chain from the timber producers all the way to the furniture manufactures.
“We are going to quantify the potential of the industry to the contribution to Gross Domestic Product. The timber industry used to contribute four percent to the national GDP, and furniture used to contribute between three and four percent to the GDP, and at the moment its now less than one percent.
“There is potential for growth and it can be unlocked. There is also employment, tax revenue and export earnings potential, and we will use this as a business case to lobby policymakers on what policies to be put in place to unlock this value so that the economy can benefit from the industry,” said Ms Kuvarika.
