Z'bar in illegal timber scam

[BabuK]

The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof Jumanne Maghembe, inspecting seized timber at Kalambo in Katavi region recently.

TIMBER trade in Zanzibar is thriving even as the Mainland has slapped a ban on the export of timber and logs, thereby fuelling deforestation in Lindi, Mtwara and Coast regions.

About 800 tonnes of illegally harvested wood from the Mainland are ferried to the Isles every week, according to impeccable sources.The booming illegal trade is made easier by the extensive coastline which is dotted with numerous unauthorized ports, while there are few or no guards of forests, in addition to lack of surveillance marine vessels.

Sharing with this writer the extent of destruction of forests in the three Mainland regions, sources in Zanzibar and the Mainland revealed on different occasions that a single dhow (sail boat) loaded to full capacity could carry a cargo of timber to fill four Fuso pick-ups at a go, adding that about 15 dhows made delivery to the Isles per week.

Morinda Kevela (49), an experienced timber trader based in Dar es Salaam who also makes frequent visits to Lindi and Mtwara regions, and Rufiji in Coast region, hinted that occasionally he travels to Zanzibar on a number of errands, including probing into why his colleagues opted to engage in timber smuggling and abandoned their legitimate business operations.

“Timber, charcoal and mangrove poles from Rufiji, Kilwa, Liwale and other coastal districts are considered hot cakes in Zanzibar. The illicit business has created millionaires at the expense of forest reserves on the Mainland,” he said, adding that Mafia island was being used as the main transit route to ferry timber to the Isles which is subsequently exported abroad.

He disclosed that a large part of the smuggled wood finds easy market in the Middle East where dealers are paid in hard currency.An official from the Zanzibar Revenue Authority who spoke on condition of anonymity shared Kevela’s sentiments, saying the smuggling of timber from the Mainland was disturbing, but was going on completely unperturbed.

He said delivery of unlawful timber in the Isles was done in broad daylight and with the knowledge of some officials in Zanzibar’s Natural Resources division.

The official said hefty kickbacks turned them ‘blind’ to the illicit trade.

Forest officers in Kilwa district, Lindi region, said curtailing the timber trade was difficult because they lacked material and financial resources to undertake the task. They confirmed that Zanzibar-destined boats loaded with wood left at night to avoid detection by forest authorities.

An officer responsible for Lands, Natural Resources and Environment in the district, Simon Ndumbaro, lamented the wanton deforestation in the district.

“Almost on every patrol we make we intercept illegal shipment of timber, charcoal and mangrove poles. Mangrove poles are preferred in ship-making abroad. The protection of forest resources is more important than ever before as the effects of climate change continue to hit hard,” Ndumbaro explained.

He named Nanjilinji ‘A’ forest reserve in Kilwa district and a mangrove forest in Rufijni Delta as wooded areas which had fallen prey to criminals in the illicit timber trade.

Another forest officer in the district, Mstafa Mfangavo, spoke about the need for community education in forest protection, in addition to finding the people alternative income-generating activities.
“The intruders do not act in isolation. They get assistance from the local people, including safeguarding boats waiting for smuggled timber. People need to know that the forests belong to them,” he said.

Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Prof Jumanne Maghembe this week intercepted a huge consignment of timber in Kalambo district, Katavi region, which was on the way to Zambia where fake seals are reportedly stamped to camouflage the origin of the timber which is later exported through the port of Dar es Salaam.

The minister suspended six forest officers in the region in connection with the scam.

Zuberi Kassimu (45), a trader in forest products based in Dar es Salaam said road barriers were meant to help forest officers control illegal forest harvesting.

“The idea is excellent and the checkpoints must be intensified. But huge volumes of wood and charcoal find their way out of Lindi and Mtwara regions through panya routes and ports,” he explained.
Tree species available in the area include Mningajangwa, Mtondoro, Mpingo and Misekeseke.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN