Timber Producers Federation forms workers' association

Published: 13 May 2014

The Timber Producers Federation (TPF) is expanding by launching the Timber Producers Association (TPA) which will represent the interests of workers in the timber industry.

According to a TPF official, the TPA will represent the interests of employers engaged in all timber-related activities.

TPF chief executive Johnson Mhungu said that the association should not be seen as a separate entity but it is in fact an extension of the TPF as well as being a part of the National Employment Council (NEC).

"The Timber Producers Association is not separate from TPF, we are one and the same. It is an extension of us and it is as well part of the National Employment Council," he said.

He said the Timber Producers Association differs from the agenda of TPF as it was established to be an employer and to tackle labour concerns.

"The Timber Producers Association is an employer and it has been put in place to deal with labour issues within the timber industry" he said. TPF has since made an application to Government for the registration of the association as shown by the Government Gazette of May 9.

"It is hereby notified, in terms of section 33 of the Labour Act (Chapter 28;01), that an application has been received for the registration of Timber Producers Association to represent the interests of employers engaged in forestry, plantation, development, harveting, sawmilling, processing and marketing of timber related products in Zimbabwe," reads part of General Notice 156 of 2014.

The local timber industry is experiencing production drawbacks as timber plantations reduced by 25 percent in the past seven years leading up to 2012.

Timber plantation reserves have depleted and experts in the field believe that if reforms are not put in place the country may have to resort to importing timber. Players in the industry say forest fires and illegal settlers as the root cause of the failing timber industry.

TPF said timber producers, such as Mutare Board and Paper Mills (MBPM), Allied Timbers Zimbabwe (ATZ), Border Timbers Limited (BTL) and Wattle Company, among others, lost about 30 000 hectares of prime timber due to illegal settlers.
- BH24

Tags: Timber,