MATABELELAND TIMBER A SOURCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

Despite an abundance of forestry areas where timber logging is a multi-million dollar business, most communities in Lupane, Nkayi and Tsholotsho (in Matabeleland North Province of Zimbabwe) where the prime teak wood of Zimbabwe is harvested still experiences high levels of underdevelopment and poor social services infrastructure.

Timber has been logged for years in Matabeleland North province of Zimbabwe where multi-million dollar companies have harvested large tracks of forestry land but even though the companies claim to be remitting royalties and paying their dues to the local authorities , most communities in forestry areas have schools without proper infrastructure, in the communities road network is bad and there are high levels of unemployment.

Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights urges local authorities and companies to ensure that the communities in timber areas enjoy right to development, right to employment, social and economic rights including workers should have righto a safe working environment.

The lack of realization and observance of human rights for workers is another key worrying factors in the forestry timer logging environment.

Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights is an independent human rights watchdog which is dedicated to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights in the Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe.