LILLIAN BANDA
Ndola
IT IS late in the afternoon and Martha Mweemba, 38, a vegetable trader in Ndola’s Twapia Township, Copperbelt Province, is getting ready to prepare dinner for her family.
The mother of five children begins by putting together what appears to be round-shaped charcoal on the brazier, traditional cooker called mbaula, that many Zambian homes are familiar with.
She proceeds to add two more of the charcoal-like material to increase the intensity of the heat so as to speed up the cooking process “I just use a few of these briquettes to prepare meals.
They are both economical and last longer compared to charcoal,” she explained while putting in ingredients to the beef stew she was preparing.
Ms Mweemba’s household is among those in Twapia Township, a low-income residential area west of Ndola town, that are using briquettes made from maize cobs and cassava waste for heating purposes and to prepare meals.
The idea of using this alternative source of energy was introduced to Twapia residents by Chimbabunga Multi-purpose Cooperative Society, whose 130 members have dedicated their time to popularising the use of eco-friendly briquettes.
Founded just over a year ago, the cooperative has quickly gained traction in the community for utilising leftover biomass from maize and cassava processing to create briquettes.
These briquettes not only burn cleaner and longer than traditional charcoal, but also offer a viable income-generating opportunity for vulnerable members of the community.
“The destructive impact of charcoal production on our forests compelled us to come up with a sustainable solution that would help curb deforestation and protect our environment,” explains Chimbabunga Multipurpose Cooperative Society chairperson Divison Sichilima.
Mr Sichilima shared that raw materials for making the briquettes are almost readily available and can be accessed free of charge or purchased from maize and cassava cultivators at minimal fees.
He added that beyond just producing and selling the eco-friendly briquettes, the cooperative also invests in training local community members on the process of making the briquettes to earn some income.
This effort not only equips individuals with new skills, but also provides them with an income-generating opportunity.
As a result, more and more vulnerable community members in Twapia are turning to this sustainable alternative, reducing reliance on traditional wood fuel and alleviating the pressure on local forests.
“All cooperative members have received training in making these briquettes and are also passing on the knowledge to others in the community.
We are working on training small-scale charcoal traders so that they can learn to make the briquettes.
The idea is to encourage them to abandon charcoal trade and have the opportunity to improve their livelihoods sustainably,” Mr Sichilima stated.
Gloria Malupenga, 32, a poultry farmer, also based in Twapia and beneficiary of the training provided by Chimbabunga Multi-purpose Cooperative Society, attests to
the positive impact of the ecofriendly briquettes.
“I used to rely on wood charcoal to heat my poultry space, but the costs of buying the charcoal was high.
Today I not only save money because I am able to make these briquettes or purchase them at an affordable price from cooperative members,” Ms Malupenga stated.
And Twapia Township ward development secretary for Mbala ward Charles Sikanyika has commened Chimbabunga Multi-purpose Cooperative Society for spearheading clean and green cooking intitiatives in the township.
He called on other community-based entities to emulate the Cooperative.
“This initiative is helping to preserve our country’s forest areas and also improving livelihoods by empowering people to make briquettes for sale. Having more community-based organisations invest in such undertakings would greatly help curb deforestation,” Mr Sikanyika stated.
The smallest pack of eco-friendly briquettes made by Chimbabunga Multi-purpose Cooperative Society costs K10. One pack can be used to prepare two full meals for five people.
In most low-income areas of Zambia, the smallest pack of traditional wood charcoal costs K5 and is only enough for preparing one full meal for a maximum of three people.
According to a 2021 report by Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), charcoal production is the leading cause of deforestation and forest degradation in Zambia.
With the growing demand driven by urbanisation and power shortages, there is a greater reliance on wood fuel to meet energy needs, resulting in the depletion of forests and woodlands.
For small-scale farmers, making charcoal has become a crucial source of extra income during the post-harvest period, especially with the recurrent droughts that have plagued the country since 2018.
Tree species such as jubernardia globlifora and brachystegia spiciformis, used for charcoal production due to their density and high calorific value, are becoming increasingly scarce.
