Maravi

Invest in tree planting, govt challenges sawmillers

Invest in tree planting, govt challenges sawmillers
By Kabanda Chulu in Kitwe
Wed 16 Mar. 2011, 04:00 CAT

GOVERNMENT has challenged sawmillers and timber merchants to urgently invest in tree planting to ensure sustainability of the forest industry because ZAFFICO will not meet their demand in the years to come.

Officiating at a meeting with timber producers, merchants and sawmillers on Monday aimed at finding best practices to manage the forests, Tourism, environment and natural resources minister Catherine Namugala said there was need to address challenges that inhibited the creation of linkages in the forestry business.

“We want you to develop value addition strategies because we can't continue exporting raw or semi-processed timber and yet we import products made out of our timber,” Namugala said.
She said it was important to remember that forests were a strategic natural resource and contributed a lot to Zambia.

Environment and natural resources permanent Lillian Kapulu advised the private sector to ensure optimum utilisation of trees through value addition and less operational wastage.

“We want to see those huge piles of sawdust being turned into finished products like briquettes to be used as alternative energy to charcoal,” said Kapulu.

“And why is Zesco importing transmission poles? Does it mean timber producers and merchants are failing to meet demand? Government wants you to export finished products, thereby avoiding creation of jobs in other countries.”

At the same meeting, Minister of Lands Gladys Lundwe assured that government was ready to expedite the provision of land to prospective investors in the forestry sector since planting of trees was important in national economic development.

ZAFFICO managing director Frightone Sichone said having one supplier in timber business was not sustainable.

“The private sector should come on board and supplement ZAFFICO. It is true that trees take years to mature so people fear they won't get immediate benefits but these are the same people building mansions and yet they are in their 60s,” said Sichone.

Earlier, Association for Saw Millers president Peter Kabamba accused ZAFFICO of squeezing entrepreneurs by reducing their annual wood allocation.

“Reduction of annual wood allocation is affecting saw millers' businesses since we fail to meet demands of our customers,” he said.

Labels: CATHERINE NAMUGALA, FRIGHTONE SICHONE, MILLERS, TIMBER

posted by MrK @ 4:10 PM