Baobab tree, local livelihoods under threat in Chimanimani
Pamenus Tuso
Chimanimani—For generations, the baobab tree has been a vital lifeline for local communities in some parts of arid Chimanimani district in Manicaland province.
Villagers in Nyanyadzi and Gudyanga areas off the Mutare-Birchenough Bridge highway have relied on this ancient tree, also known as the “upside-down tree,” for subsistence.
Capable of surviving up to 500 years in harsh, dry conditions, the baobab tree has provided food, fibre, and raw materials for various crafts that define the region’s culture and economy.
But successive droughts linked to climate change are now making it difficult for the baobab to recover from debarking.
Prolonged dry conditions and rising temperatures that couple up with soil erosion and a decline in soil fertility are also hindering the germination and growth of baobab seeds and seedlings.
As a result, the local communities that relied on the ancient tree are increasingly battling to eke out a living from the baobab.
“Our debarking is normally done in such a way that after a certain period, the tree will regenerate but because of the successive droughts which we are experiencing, the trees are no longer able to renew themselves,” Reketai Mutu (25), a roadside craftsman, told NewsHub.
“A lot of people here who used to survive through selling raw baobab fibre material to local and foreign craftsmen are now out of business,” added Mutu.
According to him, drought was also affecting other trees from which they used to comfortably earn a living.
“We extract our dyes from trees such as mutsikiri (Banket tree) and muunga tree seeds. Because of drought, these trees are also no longer able to renew themselves after harvest,” lamented Mutu.
Muunga and mutsikiri seeds produce black and red dyes, respectively.
Twenty-two year-old Rutendo Masviswa who inherited craft-making skills from her parents said she is now forced to travel longer distances to harvest raw materials from the indigenous trees.
“We are now travelling distances of up to 40 kilometres looking for baobab fibre. Sometimes, we combine our resources and hire a truck to ferry the fibre.
“At the end of the day, the business will no longer be viable because of the added costs involved,” she said.
Masviswa recalled better days before climate change induced economic hardships took their toll.
“Our parents used to build houses and buy cattle from crafts made out of the baobab. Most of our clients used to be whites travelling from Mutare to Bulawayo or Chipinge.
“Of late, there has been little business and most of the craftsmen have now gone into illegal mining,” she added.
Despite the challenges, small-scale trade in baobab products, including fruit pulp and seed oil, continues.
Along the highway, villagers who include school children sell the baobab fruit to motorists and urban merchants.
Baobab seed oil is particularly sought after in neighbouring South Africa for its use in the cosmetics industry.
However, this growing demand has intensified pressure on the tree.
Most baobab trees in the area now bear scars from excessive debarking.
The Zimbabwe’s national tree planting ambassador, Never Bonde, condemned the “wanton destruction” of baobab trees.
“I urge the government and Chimanimani Rural District Council to put in place, measures to ensure ecological and economically sustainable harvesting of the fibre.
“While I am aware that the baobab tree plays a crucial livelihood in the lives of certain communities, I suggest that seasonal harvesting of the fibre should be seriously considered so as to avoid the extinction of this God-given natural resource,” said Bonde.
Local leaders, however, insist that traditional practices have long ensured sustainability.
“We have very strict customary systems on errant harvesters. A lot of people have been doing this craft business for a very long time but the trees are still in existence. The debarking is done in such a way that after a certain period, the tree will regenerate,” said Moses Chikwizi, a village headman.