Zimbabwean timber industry turns to imports

Published: 2 hours ago

Some Zimbabwean companies have begun importing timber to address a critical supply gap that has been expanding over the past two decades, a development that industry leaders warn could signal the start of a broader crisis.

The Chairman of the Zimbabwe Timber Federation, Darlington Duwa, confirmed that the shortages result from a combination of destructive veld fires, the conversion of forestry land to agriculture, and excessive logging by companies without adequate replanting. "We are now seeing companies resorting to imports to keep operations running, which is a clear sign of the severe resource depletion we are facing," Duwa said in an interview on Monday.

Zimbabwe's timber reserves, largely concentrated in the Eastern Highlands, have been severely depleted over the last 20 years. Uncontrolled veld fires, which have increased in frequency and intensity, have consumed large portions of commercial and indigenous forestland. Allied Timbers Zimbabwe estimates that more than 50 percent of its available area has been overtaken by illegal settlers, who are cited as a primary cause of these fires.

Financial constraints have limited local producers' ability to invest in long-term replanting and forest management programmes, further aggravating the supply shortage. Duwa warned that the current deficit is "just a beginning" and predicted that the situation is likely to worsen.

"The horizon for mature timber is about 25 years," he explained. "This long maturation period means that the damage done over the past two decades has locked us into a prolonged period of scarcity, irrespective of our efforts today."

Softwoods such as pine and eucalyptus, which are central to Zimbabwe's construction and furniture manufacturing sectors, require approximately 25 years to reach harvesting maturity. With the industry already reeling from depleted forests and insufficient new growth, Duwa stressed that the only immediate strategy is the efficient use of remaining resources to mitigate the impending crisis.

The shortage has already impacted the domestic market, driving up timber prices and increasing construction costs. Major timber companies in the country, including State-owned Allied Timbers and Border Timbers, have been forced to rely on contractors to process their timber due to limited internal capacity, with revenues shared on an agreed basis.

Industry stakeholders warn that without significant investment in replanting and forest management, Zimbabwe faces a prolonged timber scarcity that could have lasting consequences for the construction, manufacturing, and furniture sectors.
- The Herald

Tags: Timber,