Strategies of Combating Desertification in Matabeleland

(In commemoration of the 17 June 2015 World Day to Commemoration Desertification)

Desertification is a major human rights, development, livelihoods, food security and biodiversity threat in Africa and especially in Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe where the rainfall practices are below average, the human behaviours, attitudes and practices are still pro-deforestation and there are very few mechanisms and strategies of addressing this climate change catastrophe.

To address the issue there are some issues, strategies and mechanisms that may need to be employed by the country in general and the different provinces specifically.

 - Generally, there is need for intensive awareness raising on the factual probability of desertification in the region and the negative effects therefore. The Matabeleland region is at desertification risk considering its proximity with the Botswana Kalahari Desert, the South African near desert climate and the very low rainfall patterns in Matabeleland, together with the economic livelihood of the region that is mainly mining. If the citizens appreciate the reality and impact of desertification in their social, economic and cultural lives, they may be instrumental in partnering local authorities, NGOs and the government in adapting to measures, strategies and systems that mitigate desertification in the region.

 - Agricultural practises and beliefs in the region also need to change. It is high time the inhabitants of the region realised that the luxury of clearing large fields for farming with the hope of getting higher yields is economically a fantasy, agriculturally a fallacy as well as environmentally a curse in a region which has been home to droughts for the past 4 - 5 years. This therefore calls for adopting new farming systems, methods and techniques that use less land and leave the other land to rejuvenate and thus combat deforestation which is a catalyst for desertification.

 - Communities also need to change their beliefs and attitudes regarding amafusi and amanxiwa (abandoned fields and homesteads). Most new families will not generally agree to settle in enxiweni or to farm in efusini and thus prefer to be allocated a new land where they will clear grass and trees thus exacerbating land degradation and cumulative destruction of vegetation cover. This is the same with descendants of families that abandoned homesteads or fields, they may leave that areas fallow for 10 - 15 years and the year the community leaders decide to settle someone there, it becomes a bone of contention. One thing that both sides do not realize that there is so little vegetated land currently and continuous destruction of vegetation is detrimental to biodiversity, ecosystem balance and is a catalyst for increased desertification which unfortunately does not discriminate in terms of political, religious and cultural beliefs.

 - Local authorities also need to adopt settlement patterns that are controlled and can assist in reducing land degradation and vegetation destruction such as the linear settlement pattern which unfortunately most of our people do not prefer. Linear settlement patterns are not only environmentally friendly but they also make it easy to provide and access basic services such as transport, education, health, water and security.

 - In areas such as Matabeleland North Province where there is high vegetation cover through forests, the risk of desertification is also high considering that most of the soils are very sandy such as the desert sand in Lupane, parts of Nkayi, parts of Bubi, parts of Mguza and parts of Tsholotsho. In these areas there is need for controlled timber logging and community participation in timber concession agreements. Communities and timber loggers need to also strategise on mechanisms of ensuring the leaves and branches of the logged timber are used to shield the soil from erosion and degradation using such methods as the ‘soil carpeting system'.

 - Promotion of alternative energy sources and fencing methods such as solar, biogas and fencing should also be promoted especially by the national government through reducing tax and duty for solar products and components and fence making materials.

 - The central government and the provincial authorities (when they come into force) should also consider establishing a desertification fund that may be used to finance community initiatives and efforts to redress the desertification calamity. This is imperative considering that desertification is both a threat to human rights and national security.

 - Government through the Ministry of Local Government should also enable the local authorities to establish district and provincial climate change adaptation and desertification strategies and action plans which are relevant to their localities.

 - The government through the Ministry of Home Affairs should also consider training police officers on environmental justice issues so as to build their capacity and appreciation of environmental crimes as both human right violations and state security matters. Such capacity building may also enable the police to acquire relevant skills and competencies to investigate environmental crimes and treat such crimes with the gravity they deserve.

 - It is also important for the government through the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to consider enacting an Environment Court that shall operate at provincial levels at shall sit as when and when there is need and cases of environmental injustices committed. Having such a legal enforcement mechanism that is manned by environmentally competent magistrates and judges will help in ensuring that environmental offenders do not abuse the court system to evade from paying for their injustices.

 - Finally, it is imperative for non-state actors such as civic society, churches and the business to mainstream environmental justice into their programmes and activities so as to create an environmentally just and desertification conscious society.

Desertification is a serious issue in Zimbabwe and the Matabeleland region in particular and failure to take necessary and appropriate steps and mechanism to address the issue may have far reaching political, economic, cultural and social consequences.
 
By Khumbulani Maphosa, Chairperson of Matabeleland Environmental Justice Association, representing the association's views and opinions. Matabeleland Environmental Justice Association can be contacted on email: mejaoffice@gmail.com