By Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
(News Of The South) – Environmental experts have warned Zimbabweans about a looming environmental disaster as poisonous weed Lantana Camara ‘Rukato’ is rapidly spreading all over the southern African country.
Addressing villagers at the launch of the National Lantana Camara Removal Project at Chivamba Business Centre in Zaka, EMA Senior Environmental Education and Publicity Officer Mapako Rambwayi warned villagers who domesticate poisonous weeds of pending legal action as they are cohabiting dangerous plants.
“It is an offence to domesticate noxious weeds such Lantana Camara, Kariba Weed and Water Hyacinth.
Most of you have planted Lantana Camara as hedge at your homesteads and boundaries for your garden and farms. This is a crime because the weed is classified as a noxious weed because of toxic chemicals it releases into the soil.
“Lantana Camara forms dense thickets that shade out grass and this would reduce potential grazing land. The weed is a carrier of poison which spreads rapidly because its shouts survive in dry
conditions,” said Mr Rambwayi.
Malilangwe Conservation Trust Neighbour and Reach-out Manager Tendayi Nhunzvi said Lantana Camara is a serious environmental threat because its seeds are being dispersed by birds which feed on its fruits.
“Lantana Camara develops new plants from a method called layering. It also reproduces seed, the seed being widely distributed by birds and other animals. A mature plant can produce 1200 seeds per square metre and seeds can remain viable for many years,” said Nhunzvi.
Mr Nhunzvi said the weed has invaded some parts of Malilangwe Conservancy Trust hence wild animals are dying because of the poison it produces.
“Chiredzi River has been invaded by Lantana Camara. The river passes through our conservancy meaning we are not spared from the effects of this dangerous plant. Wild animals, livestock and fish are dying because of poison from Lantana Camara so an extra effort must be taken to stop the weed from spreading,” said Nhunzvi.
Mr Rambwayi however said it is vital for communities to destroy Lantana Camara as this would protect the environment from continued degradation.
“Zimbabweans must rise against Lantana Camara. Let’s destroy it before it invades a greater potion. Recovering this land will be costly both in terms of money and time but earlier measures will save the environment for future generations,” said Rambwayi.
Mr Rambwayi said the best way of destroying Lantana Camara was uprooting the plant replacing it with vertiva grass.
Malilangwe Conservation Trust availed Vertiva grass for the nurseries.
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