Manicaland Bureau

Invading timber plantations and changing their land use should not be tolerated, President Mnangagwa has said.

In a speech read on his behalf by Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri during the commissioning of state-of-the-art machinery by Allied Timbers Zimbabwe (ATZ) yesterday, the President reiterated that “plantation land remains plantation land”.

“I have been expertly advised that only 200 000 hectares of Zimbabwe, mostly here in Manicaland, are suitable for growing fast-growing exotic trees that are in high demand in the construction sector. Let us reserve these few hectares for tree plantations. Surely, they are our ‘sacrosanct crown jewels’,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Let me re-emphasise Government policy on timber plantations — plantation land shall remain plantation land. In this regard, to Allied Timbers, I hereby exhort you to carry on with current momentum in tree planting on a sustainable basis. It is refreshing that you are increasing your planting targets every year. Further, I am particularly impressed by your acquisition of fire protection equipment that will certainly be used to protect this investment in trees.”

ATZ was commended for the progress it has made in its turnaround strategy.

“The invite to officiate at this forestry equipment commissioning ceremony was irresistible for two reasons: Firstly, at the commissioning of the Allied Timbers Msasa Boards and Doors plant in June 2018, I committed to visit Allied Timbers Zimbabwe again to check on progress on the turnaround of the company. At that occasion, we were at a project with a relatively modest investment of US$125 000. Today we are witnessing a US$7 million worth of project equipment — a transformative move indeed. Secondly, I vividly recall that as Vice President in 2016, my Office then initiated the progressive economic cooperation between the sister Republics of Belarus and Zimbabwe. Thus, the occasion today is for me a significant milestone; a long journey well-travelled,” he said.

“Today’s occasion is ample testimony of our enduring cooperation and friendship which we continue to nurture with the Republic of Belarus. I need not remind you of the fruitful impact that our cooperation has had in mechanisation efforts in the agriculture and public transport sectors. Mechanisation, with concomitant efficient production, needs to remain a central theme in long-range planning and a strategic issue driving our corporations. We see this potential here at Allied Timbers Zimbabwe,” said the President.

Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu, under whose portfolio ATZ falls, said the entity had embarked on a successful retooling drive.

“To secure the plantation forest resource, revenue generation ought to be guaranteed through production activities. In the last three years, there has been increased capacitation of the production function with gradual retooling of sawmills, pole treatment plants and replacement of mobile forestry equipment. Some notable innovative technology has also come in the way of veneer production from eucalyptus logs and briquette production from sawmill wastes. My ministry is encouraged by this development trend, which is in line with NDS1,” he said.