Forestry Commission Seizes 4,000 Bags of Charcoal

The Forestry Commission impounded 20 trucks and seized 4,000 bags of charcoal and 300 cubic metres of firewood in a major August 2026 operation across Harare Metropolitan Province. The "No To Indigenous Firewood" campaign targeted Mbare, Chikwanha, and Lusaka. The sweep follows rising deforestation rates driven by illegal charcoal production and firewood trade. Authorities have struggled to enforce bans due to corruption and demand from urban households. The operation exposes the government's limited capacity to curb environmental destruction, as illegal trade continues to thrive under weak regulatory oversight.