The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
MASSIVE deforestation at Tongagara Refugee Camp in Chipinge South has resulted in serious environmental degradation in the surrounding areas.
The refugees rely on wood to construct their houses, cooking and making charcoal which is also being sold to fellow refugees and surrounding communities.
The camp is home to over 12 500 foreign nationals mainly from Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique.
A visit to the camp last week by The Manica Post saw scores of refugees working on small projects like brick moulding and charcoal production.
Mr Joseph Lumande, a DRC national, said they are forced to cut down trees due to limited resources.
He also said limited accommodation facilities are also forcing the refugees to construct makeshift wooden structures.
“The authorities here provide us with tents as the houses are not enough to accommodate the growing population at the camp.
“We are left with no option but to construct makeshift structures. We end up cutting wood from the nearby forest. We are also supplementing our income through charcoal making. We have a ready market for the charcoal — fellow refugees buy it. Although development partners supply us with firewood on a monthly basis, it is not enough,” he said.
Chipinge Rural District Council Ward 16 councillor, Councillor Rephius Maphahla confirmed the deforestation taking place in the area.
“Firewood consumption at Tongogara Refugee Camp is very high and they end up wantonly cutting down trees from surrounding areas, including Middle Sabi.
“If nothing is done urgently, the environment will be damaged. We are urging all development partners operating at Tongogara to consider increasing firewood supplies to the camp as well as introducing environment conservation programmes,” said Councillor Mapahla.
Forest Commission officer for Chipinge, Mr Robinson Toronga also confirmed the development and said they are rolling out environment management programmes at Tongogara Refugee Camp to mitigate the problem.
“Environment degradation in areas surrounding the Tongagara Refugee Camp is rampant due to the growing population at the camp.
“We have a programme where we are targeting to grow 100 000 trees, mostly fast growing ones,” he said.
