Gwanda drafts Amacimbi by-law

GWANDA Rural District Council has crafted a by-law it says will regulate the
harvesting of Amacimbi/madora, in a move the council says will protect the local
resource and benefit people where it is found.
The by-law also aims at commercialising the resource harvesting in order to
generate revenue for the local authority.
The draft is currently awaiting central Government’s approval.
Addressing villagers at Ward 18 Centre in Buvuma during the 2024 council budget
consultative meeting, Gwanda Rural District Council’s Engineer Washington Lunga
said the draft is already in place and needs people’s input before it is tabled in
Parliament.
“We have since drafted by-laws that will introduce licences to individuals intending to
harvest amacimbi under areas of its jurisdiction as a way of monetising the resource.
As a local authority, we are hopeful the by-law will be approved by the central
Government.
“Therefore, the onus lies with you on how you want the law to be written,” said Eng.
Lunga.
There was debate, with some residents saying they cannot be licensed to harvest
amacimbi in their own areas. Instead, the law must be strict on outsiders.
Sithembile Mhlanga, from Sukwi village said the law must not affect them because
they are the owners of the resource.
“Licences should be sold to outsiders while locals must enjoy their God-given
resource. Amacimbi are part of our livelihoods and must not be separated from us.
How can I be governed on how to use something which rightfully belongs to me,”
asked Mhlanga.
Another villager, Rebone Nare, said laws are good but must not deprive other
communities that are naturally gifted with resources.
“The problem is that some of the laws are applied selectively. Come December, you
will see too many people from Harare with big trucks coming to harvest amacimbi
without even seeking permission from traditional leaders.
“On the other hand, as people coming from this region we are not allowed to harvest
their bananas or avocados as they chase us away. Why not do the same here? Let
communities leave within their own means and do barter trade,” said Nare.
Another villager, only identified as Themba, said outsiders should never be allowed
to come close to amacimbi because they destroy the environment.

“People from Mashonaland provinces are slowly destroying our environment
because they don’t know how to harvest amacimbi.
“First, they harvest our resource before it is even ready for consumption. Secondly,
they cut down trees instead of waiting for amacimbi to come down and then pick
them from the ground.
“The law must ban them from coming to our communities,” said Themba.
However, Lunga told them that emotions will not solve the problem but the law
would.
“In as much as you are becoming emotional about your natural resource, let’s bear in
mind that we are all Zimbabweans with the same right of owning amacimbi.
“We know what we want, so let us be smart in drafting this by-law,” said Lunga.
Matabeleland South traditional leader, Chief Khulumani Mathema has previously
lashed out at people from outside the province, accusing them of employing poor
methods of harvesting amacimbi.
He was once quoted saying: “Amacimbi are one of the economic enablers for people
in our districts. Now outsiders are chopping down our trees which are the major
source of amacimbi breeding.
"So, one wonders why the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is not
protecting our people?
“This is not the way to live, you know these people come here and do their business
of collecting amacimbi and some do not even have respect because they cut down
trees,” said Chief Mathema.