Campfire to embark on amacimbi project

Date: 25 June 2004

Source: Herald (Zim)

Author: Anon

BULAWAYO.---THE Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (Campfire) Association says it will embark on an amacimbi (Mopane worms) harvesting and management project in Bulilima-mangwe district of Matabeleland South province as a way of promoting rural development.

The association said in its 2000-2001 annual report that the amacimbi were being harvested in an unsustainable manner characterised by over-harvesting and the indiscriminate cutting down of trees for building temporary shelter for those people coming from outside the district.

It said some middle-men were also resorting to barter trade, disadvantaging the local communities by offering cheap goods instead of cash.

"The goal of the amacimbi project is to increase participation of rural communities in a sustainable manner and to build institutional capacity for sound management and harvesting of the mopane worms," said the association.

This, it said, would be achieved through the establishment of mopane worms processing centres, improved harvesting techniques, the processing and marketing of the worms as well as a component of training through a Campfire development grant.

There would be an imposition of sales tax per bucket harvested to be paid to a committee while those who harvested the worms illegally would be fined.

Under the project a revolving fund to assist the needy villagers participating in Campfire programmes would be set up.

Mopane worms were said to be good appetisers and healthy for consumption.-Ziana.