DON'T BE CRUEL

Local firewood hawkers have expressed concerns about the recently implemented law which regulates collection of firewood. Speaking to The Midweek Sun on what they feel is a cruel stance by authorities, Dipuo Kgano of Ditlhakane lands said she is worried about the welfare of her family that depends on her firewood business because government is now becoming hard on them by enforcing the agricultural Resources Conservation Regulations Statutory Instrument No8 on the utilisation of veld products.

“We are required to pay for the permits at the sum of P100 every month. That money is too much for us because we can hardly afford that amount on a monthly basis. In some months we cannot afford to pay for the permit and that means we will stop selling and face poverty.”

Another hawker Otsile Motsewabeng said he collects the dried wood from the fields in Ditlhakane and sells as firewood for survival. “I cannot afford to pay the fee for the permit because that would mean paying with 80 percent of the revenue I make. I am trying my best to comply but it is difficult."

Recently, Botswana government issued a statement advising citizens to comply with the law which regulates collection of firewood. Government expressed concerns about excessive use of fuel wood and felling of live trees by some members of the public which is often done without necessary permits.

BLEAK FUTURE: Traders who make a living from selling firewood complain that fees to be paid are too high. Dipuo Kgano of Ditlhakane says they are being driven towards poverty
BLEAK FUTURE: Traders who make a living from selling firewood complain that fees to be paid are too high. Dipuo Kgano of Ditlhakane says they are being driven towards poverty



The penalties for contravening the utilisation of veld products regulations in Botswana include a fine not exceeding P1 000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both.

African Forestry Forum (AFF) has urged nations to come up with supportive policies for empowerment and management of forest resources to improve livelihoods and food security in rural communities.

Presenting their research findings during the AFF regional Workshop on sharing information and experiences, Bindura University of Science Education Professor Lizzie Mujuru stated that the main drivers of deforestation are clearing for agriculture, charcoal, firewood, logging, veldfires and infractructure development.

She stated that mainstreaming gender equality and women’s empowerment throughout forestry institutions, policy and programes is important because deforestation and forest degradation give a greater burden to women and children than men.

“Benefit sharing is important for rewarding efforts of forest management and can be in form of monetary payments or some actions that provide non-monetary incentives for behavioural change. In east Africa women are paid directly through mobile money for planting and protecting trees.”

AFF executive secretary, Professor Godwin Kowero said existing policies and legislation are good on paper, and if implemented correctly can lead to sustainable utilisation of forests.