Some poor households across Zimbabwe are now turning to the “mopane” worms or amacimbi/madora for sustenance reported <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200007838/zimbos-turn-to-mopane-worms-as-hunger-bites">NewsDay</a>.
According to recent research from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) food security arm, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FewsNet), mopane worms are available in near-record amounts this year. It said:
<blockquote>
Across Zimbabwe, some poor households are engaging in petty trade and casual labour to earn income and collecting and selling seasonally available wild foods.
Since December, households have been harvesting, selling, and consuming mopane worms, also known as “amacimbi” or “madora”, particularly in the southern and western districts.
The highly-nutritious and popular worms are reportedly available in near-record amounts this year.
The availability of seasonal domestic and wild fruits and vegetables is also supplementing household food consumption in some parts of the country.
Households are also increasing livestock sales with the start of the new school year.
</blockquote>
FewsNet also noted that as demand for cereals increases through the lean season, market supply is declining, especially in most deficit-producing areas owing to a weakening local currency.

Pindula News

Zimbabweans Turn To Mopane Worms For Sustenance

A traditional leader in Matabeleland South Province, says outsiders should not harvest mopane worms (amacimbi / madora) in the region as they employ poor methods of harvesting.
This comes after the province has been inundated by people from various parts of the country who have been harvesting the worms since the onset of the rainy season.
Gwanda chief Khulumani Mathema told Sunday Southern Eye that the uncontrolled harvesting of mopane worms threatened the economic well-being of the region. He said:
<blockquote>
Amacimbi have been one of the economic enablers for people in our districts.
Now they (outsiders) are chopping down trees, which are the major source of mopane worms breeding.
So one wonders why the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is not protecting our people.
This is not the way to live; you know these people come here and do their business of collecting mopane worms and some do not even have respect because they cut down the trees.
Another thing is they do not know the process of collecting because they are not supposed to take them when they are still on the tree.
Instead, they should wait until they are now moving off from the tree on their own.
</blockquote>
Mathema said it is perplexing that people travel from faraway places to harvest Mopane worms in Matabeleland yet people from the region do not go to other regions to exploit natural resources found there. He said:
<blockquote>
The locals know how to collect the worms and understand the whole process to harvest amacimbi.
My question is: Have they ever seen us going to their provinces to collect any of the things that their areas are well-known for?
These people do not respect us and our culture, which is not fair because we no longer live peacefully.
They should not come here because they are now ripping us off our environmental rights.
If they want mopane worms (amacimbi) they should get them from wherever they come from not here.
</blockquote>
The traditional leader said their efforts to engage the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) on the issue have not been successful.
A Kaufusi villager, Reboni Noko said outsiders were also polluting the environment by leaving plastic bags and baby diapers everywhere.
Another villager, Relebile Nare said they were losing patience with the “foreigners” that had taken over their area.
Matabeleland South EMA public relations officer Sithembokuhle Moyo told Southern Eye they were aware of the issue but had not been empowered to intervene. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/southerneye/news/article/200006437/tension-over-mopani-worms-harvesting">Southern Eye</a>

Mopane Worms Harvesting: "Outsiders" Accused Of Destroying The Environment

Mopane worm harvesters have inundated parts of rural Matabeleland following the above-normal rains received in many parts of the country which have resulted in the availability of plenty of the protein-rich worms.
One such area that has been invaded by mopane warm (amacimbi / madora) harvesters is the bushy area along the Bulawayo-Solusi Road.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) rangers are, however, stopping traffic along the stretch of road to ensure that no one leaves the area with more than two buckets filled with the mopane worms.
A group of harvesters told the Chronicle that the Zimparks rangers are there to regulate the harvesting of the worms.
Emelia Ndlovu said she is from the Pumula South suburb in Bulawayo and they drove all the way to get the worms.
Ndlovu, who said every year she visits the area once the rains come, explained that mopane worm harvesting is a long process that needs to be done carefully. She said:
<blockquote>
Before choosing the area where one will harvest, you need to carefully scan it and see whether there are enough amacimbi in the area and if so, if they’re big enough. After doing that comes the harvesting part.
You pick a handful if they’re already scattered on the ground and if not, you need to bring down the tree branches or better yet cut them down so that you can reach the worms.
</blockquote>
She said after picking them and filling one’s container, you clean each worm one by one. Said Ndlovu:
<blockquote>
This is the painful part because amacimbi are not smooth and cleaning them often hurts. Once cleaned, we carry them home where we boil and dry them.
Most people prefer carrying them after they have been cleaned because if they’re not, they will be very heavy and they take up a lot of space.
</blockquote>
A man who only identified himself as Nkomo said he and his group were from Kadoma and travelled overnight to harvest the worms.
A local harvester, Hilda Dube said amacimbi are no longer found near the road as a lot of people have rushed to harvest them. She said:
<blockquote>
I sell amacimbi to cross-border traders at R700 per bucket and keep some for home consumption.
The only challenge that we come across here is the danger of being bitten by snakes. Snakes eat amacimbi so once they are around, you know a snake is nearby.
Just this morning as we were harvesting, we saw a big snake and we immediately vacated the area and went to a different spot.
</blockquote>
Reports suggest that in a good season, over 500 tonnes of mopane worms are collected throughout Matabeleland South Province with an estimated value of up to US$1 000 000. | <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/watch-solusi-area-abuzz-with-amacimbi-harvesters/">Chronicle</a>

Mopane Worm Harvesters Flood Matabeleland Region

The Forestry Commission has partnered with various entities to set up mopane worm-rearing facilities in Matabeleland South Province to save mopane worms (amacimbi/madora) from possible extinction due to various factors.
Traditionally, mopane worms were harvested in December and April each year but due to overharvesting, uncontrolled cutting of trees, harsh weather conditions and pests, some areas are going for years without producing them.
A Gwanda villager, a Mr Sibanda, told the Chronicle that people have been coming from different areas to harvest the Mopane worms thereby threatening their existence. He said:
<blockquote>
We grew up knowing that our area was an amacimbi area. Every April and December we knew that we would be harvesting them. Some, we would eat and some we would sell.
In the past, there wasn’t that much selling, but then we started having people coming from different areas to harvest amacimbi.
The more people came in to harvest amacimbi the more they became scarce. People became desperate to the extent that they would even harvest the small ones, leaving the trees bare.
Gradually, the population of the mopane worms declined to an extent where they started missing seasons.
We have mopane trees in our area, but we no longer have amacimbi every season.
</blockquote>
In a bid to protect the caterpillars, two mopane worm-rearing facilities have been set up in Gwanda, with one established in Ward 15 through the assistance of the Southern Alliance For Indigenous Resources (SAFIRE).
The other facility is in Ward 21 and was established under the Government-led Insects for Nutrition Programme.
Forestry Commission Matabeleland South provincial manager, Bekezela Tshuma said:
<blockquote>
The availability of mopane worms is under threat due to human and environmental factors.
We want to preserve and ensure their existence through these rearing facilities.
We put pupae in pupation beds where they can hibernate and come out as moths which will then lay eggs that become mopane worms.
If a lot of mopane worms are produced within the facility, then we can distribute them in the bush to enhance their production.
This will guarantee their continuous availability as they will be protected from predators.
We will also be able to monitor the harvesting process at the facility to ensure that villagers leave seed.
We will also distribute some mopane worms in areas where they have now become extinct.
</blockquote>
Mopane worms are a popular delicacy across Zimbabwe. Amacimbi (Ndebele) of madora (Shona), can be snacked on dry, crispy fried, or cooked in a sauce of choice. | <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/forestry-commission-intervenes-to-save-mopane-worms/">Chronicle</a>

Forestry Commission Intervenes To Save Mopane Worms

Amancimbi/Madora harvesters have reportedly flocked into Insiza District in Matabeleland South province to harvest the delicacy despite the national shutdown which is supposed to end on Sunday, Newsday reports.
This was revealed by Godlwayo Community Development Trust (GCDT)’s Nkululeko Tshuma who said this to The Southern Eye:
<blockquote>We have some challenges here regarding COVID-19 as there is serious non-compliance with the lockdown and social distancing. People are flocking to our areas in search of amacimbi and gold. There is a gold rush in one area within our district… there are fears of a COVID-19 outbreak as there are so many people in those areas within our district</blockquote>
The Incident was further confirmed by a social worker in Filabusi Sibongile Khumalo who said:
<blockquote>Mopane worms are in abundance in Filabusi and people from as far as Mberengwa are thronging the district to harvest the worms. Due to hunger, lack of employment and food provision by government, people are harvesting amacimbi in their numbers. When I asked some of them how they maintain social distance they told me that each person picked the worms from his/her own tree.</blockquote>
Tshuma called upon authorities to go to the areas where harvesters are and enforce the lockdown to ensure that people in that area are not infected or affected by COVID-19
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2020/04/amacimbi-harvesters-defy-lockdown-invade-insiza/">Newsday </a>

Mopani Worms Harvesters Defy Lockdown Restrictions & Flock Into Insiza District To Harvest The Worms

Some Zimbabweans have reportedly defied the national lockdown decree that was imposed this week to stop the spread of coronavirus.
This was revealed by Matabeleland South Provincial Police Spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele who said scores of people were coming into the region en masse to harvest the “delicious” worms. Ndebele said:
<blockquote>We have a big challenge at Gwanda farms where there are plenty of mapone trees. People coming from all walks of life especially Beitbridge and Mberengwa districts rushed to the areas to harvest amacimbi.
By so doing these people are compromising social distancing thereby likely to spread the virus in the event one or two of them is infected. However, as police, we managed to displace hundreds of them on Wednesday afternoon.</blockquote>
The worms are usually harvested at the end of the rainy season. Many harvesters regard madora/amacimbi, their Shona and Ndebele names, respectively, as a major revenue source while some use them as a relish.
The lockdown means that some are not going to their formal jobs and it presents them with a rare opportunity to harvest the worms.
Some are however perennial harvesters who are aiming to complement their poor farm produce with income from the worms.
More: <a href="http://newziana.co.zw/2020/04/03/mopane-worm-harvesters-defy-lockdown/">NewZiana</a>

Defying National Lockdown To Harvest Madora/Amacimbi (Mopane Worms)

<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/ZimTrade" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zimtrade</a> chief executive, Allan Majuru said Zimbabwe has the potential to earn foreign currency from exports of mopane worms – known locally as macimbi or madora – to Europe where they are a highly sought after delicacy for their nutritious value.
The country’s trade promotion body has commissioned studies to establish what are the requirements for exporters to penetrate the lucrative European market. Said Majuru:
<blockquote>There are things where we have a comparative advantage but are not making use of – macimbi (mopane worms), in Europe (it) has become a hit as one of the highest sources of protein.
We are in the process of establishing and understanding the rules and regulations in order for us to export macimbi to Europe because they are highly sought after as a source of protein.</blockquote>
Mopane worms feed primarily on mopane tree leaves but can also do so on other tree species.
They are harvested by handpicking and then dried. They can be eaten raw as a crisp snack or alternatively can be soaked to re-hydrate and then deep-fried until crunchy.
Some reports suggest that the nutrient levels in the worms are three times higher than that in beef.
<h4>More: <a href="http://newziana.co.zw/2020/02/22/4886/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Ziana</a></h4>

Zimbabwe Plans Mopane Worms Export To Europe

<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Beitbridge">Beitbridge</a>‘s Amacimbi/Madora plant is almost complete and it will start processing the edible delicacy soon, Sunday News reports. The Matshiloni Mopani Women Processing Centre which is sorely owned by a women cooperative of 106 most of them women, will start harvesting Mopani Worms during the upcoming harvesting season which falls between November and January.
This was revealed by the Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Dr <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Sithembiso_Nyoni">Sithembiso Nyoni</a> who said this to the publication:
<blockquote>Construction of the processing centre is nearing completion, only final touches are being undertaken. We are only waiting for the harvesting time to start, thereafter the processing of amacimbi will start</blockquote>
The Cooperative that is making the Mopani worms plant were highly enabled by a $100 000 grant from the African Development bank. International labour organisation is also providing technical support for the project.
More: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/construction-of-amacimbi-plant-nears-completion/">Sunday News</a>

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