A Chirumhanzu Zibagwe traditional leader Headman Cornelious Vandirayi has read a riot act on some unscrupulous politicians who are shielding charcoal poachers in Ward 2 under the guise of youth empowerment schemes.

“We are not going to tolerate politicians who are shielding these coal poachers some of whom are coming from our ward under the guise of youth empowerment schemes. There is no such empowerment of destroying our environment, there is no such empowerment of destroying our trees,” said the straight-talking Vandirayi during a tree planting program held at Midlands Black Rhino Conservancy.

He added he had authority from the President to safeguard the environment.

“I derive my authority from President Mnangagwa who gave me jurisdiction to administer this area, and the President is pro-conservation that is where I am deriving my inspiration so I am not going to tolerate nonsense when it comes to the environment,” he said.

Vandirayi said charcoal making and selling of firewood has been a problem in his ward.

“Tree planting is important in our ward. We were experiencing problems with charcoal making and selling of firewood. People here have a mentality of thinking that trees are an infinite resource but that’s not it,” he said.

He added that with climate change now a reality there is a need to seriously administer environmental laws.

“Programs such as tree planting a very important because they raise awareness in people on the need to safeguard our environment. Trees are a finite resource that must be well looked after. There is therefore need for our communities to understand the need for sustainable use of our natural resources.

“Climate change is now evident as being witnessed by extreme temperatures that we are experiencing. As a community we are working with EMA in terms of sustainable usage of our resources,” he said.

He added that indigenous knowledge systems are also important when it comes to conservation.

“The incorporation of indigenous knowledge systems is also key if we are to conserve our environment there is a need to integrate and use them in our mainstream conservation efforts,” he said.

Ward 2 Councillor Basilio Mutosvori said there is a need for sustainable usage of natural resources in the ward.

“The Sebakwe area used to comprise conservancies mainly as we have areas such as Poledale, Rockvale, and Lorraine which we turned into resettlement areas.  Considering the depletion of natural resources within the conservancy there is a need for sustainable use of our resources so that we won’t affect the ecosystem,” he said.

He added the community also used to battle the problem of charcoal poachers but that seems to have been contained as he said people now understand the sustainable use of resources.