IT IS not a fallacy to say that the people of Mulobezi area in Sesheke district are ‘sitting’ on money considering the potential they have in timber production.
The area is endowed with high grade timber, which the people of Mulobezi helplessly watch being exploited and transported on trucks to unknown destinations outside Zambia.
Zambia is one of sub-Saharan African countries blessed with massive natural resources but still grappling with poverty, especially among the rural populace, not because they have no resources to support their well-being but because of lack of attention drawn to certain industries like timber. Zambia’s timber remains unexploited.
Sesheke and Mulobezi are Zambia’s largest producers of timber and most of it is exported to other countries illegally.
Some timber loggers in Sesheke have bemoaned the lack of a well-established timber market in the country. They have attributed this problem to the increase in illegal exportation of timber.
One of the loggers, Inambao Simasiku of Mulobezi, says timber is a lucrative business that needs investment in order to contribute effectively to national development.
Mr Simasiku says the timber industry in Zambia has not received the attention needed and if left unchecked, the industry will remain a sleeping giant.
“We have a lot of foreign trucks coming here and others proceeding to Mulobezi to get timber which they take to neighbouring countries. I think Government must come to our aid. The timber industry has great potential and can effectively contribute to the economy of this country,” he says.
“Sesheke has one of the most valuable and durable timber in the region. Most countries in the region, especially Namibia, Botswana and South Africa, largely depend on Zambia’s Mulobezi timber,” Mr Simasiku says.
He says the poor road network has also contributed to failure by locals to exploit the timber. He says some people involved in illegal exports are able to exploit the timber there because they have trucks ideal for the Mulobezi terrain.
Another logger, Cosmas Mumba, says the people of Mulobezi and surrounding areas are missing out on the potential of the timber business.
Mr Mumba says most of the locals only use timber for charcoal which they supply to Sesheke and Livingstone.
“It is sad to see Sesheke under-developed when it is endowed with natural resources that can be used to accelerate development. We have the Zambezi River, the Livingstone-Sesheke Road which connects Sesheke to Central and sub-Saharan Africa. Sesheke has the timber and other resources that can help develop this district,” he says.
The illegal export of timber has resulted in the country losing out in terms of business opportunities that can better the lives of many Zambians.
According to Mr Mumba, Mulobezi timber has a lifespan of 30 years and could earn Zambia the much-needed foreign exchange.
But to date, there has been no stable investor to exploit the timber and create employment for the locals.
Western Province is not the only area endowed with timber. North-Western, Eastern and Southern provinces are other areas with the potential for timber industry.
“Unless we have established markets or stable investors in this industry, the country risks losing a lot of money from illegal timber export. The timber which is being smuggled today is costing a lot of money in some of the neighbouring countries and Europe,” says Mr Mumba.
However, timber loggers in Mulobezi are confident that resources would be found to create good conditions for stable investors.
The few Zambians dealing in timber are small-scale traders whose market is locally based and a handful sell to tourists in form of furniture and curios.
“This sector is rich but at the moment, the few Zambians engaged in this timber industry are small-scale traders who are even exploited because of lack of an established market and certain policies to support their dealings in this industry,” Mr Mumba says.
There is hope among the various timber traders that Government would soon move in and regulate the sector and pay much attention to its potential.
Recently, Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Catherine Namugala warned against illegal export of unprocessed timber because the trend is contributing to unemployment among local people.
Ms Namugala says anyone found wanting will face the wrath of the law, adding that illegal harvesting of timber is prohibited by law.
“It is every Zambian’s task to protect the environment because if we wipe out trees, we are destroying the environment for the generations to come,” she says.
If attention is given to the timber industry, it can complement the agricultural sector in the country’s economic growth.
Apart from other social and environmental impacts, the consequences of the exploitation of timber are felt on water supplies, since forests regulate much of the catchment area of the Zambezi River and are essential during the annual seven-month-long dry season.
Timber is important to national development and it is imperative that a market is established before one of Zambia’s most treasured natural resources is wiped out in Mulobezi.
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