Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has cleared 1 620 hectares of alien invader species, opuntia fulgida (jumping cholla), which is threatening pastures in Matabeleland South province.

The weed is believed to have spread rapidly over 3 000 hectares of grazing land in six administrative districts in the last seven years.

The province has an estimated 600 000 herd of cattle.

EMA’s spokesperson for Matabeleland South Mrs Sithembokhuhle Moyo said they had cleared 56 percent of the affected area with the assistance of villagers.

“The worst affected districts are Gwanda and Beitbridge where a total of 2 265 hectares and 579 hectares were lost respectively,” she said.

“Other areas are Mangwe (12ha), Matobo (35ha), Bulilima (25ha) and Insiza with 2,5 hectares. At the moment, villagers in the affected areas are cutting the plant before it spreads to grazing lands and burying the material deep underground.”

Mrs Moyo said they would continue working with other stakeholders to find permanent solutions to eradicating the plant.

She said they had completely eradicated the shrubs in areas where EMA was active.

Mrs Moyo said they had also recorded a 76 percent decrease in incidents where pastures were destroyed by veld fires.

“In 2016, we lost a total of 7 000 hectares from 22 veld fires, she said. Last year, we lost 2 940 hectares of grazing land from 41 fire incidents.

“We are having continuous awareness campaigns across the province where we are educating people on the dangers of starting veld fires.”

Opuntia fulgida is a new invasive cactus species that is invading the dry districts of Matabeleland.

Experts say the plant was likely introduced as an ornamental plant by landscapers.

The shrub spreads mainly through vegetative propagation, when segments of the thorny cactus detach themselves from the main plant at the slightest contact and attach themselves to passing human, animal, bird and vehicular traffic (hence the name jumping chollla), and are carried to new areas.

In addition, the plant forms thick impregnable thickets that deny farmers and their animals access to grazing areas, water holes and crop fields and it injures and kill domestic and wild animals.

According to EMA, another plant, lantana camara, has also affected over 700 hectares of pastures in the province.

Lantana camara is a much-branched, upright, arching or scrambling shrub that usually grows two to four metres tall and forms dense thickets.

It grows like a vine (as a scandent shrub) due to its patterns of short branches and if there is support from other vegetation, it can reach up to 15 metres.