Land Use and Savanna Woodland Management in Zimbabwe: Review Case Study of Save Valley, South-Eastern Zimbabwe

This study explored the role of local people of Mutema-Musikavanhu communities in Save Valley, south-eastern Zimbabwe and their respective local level institutional play in woodlands utilization and management. The aim of the study was to investigate the historical and present factors that influence the effectiveness of local community, protected areas and state institutions on land and woodlands management within the socio-ecological system in the Save Valley. The study was conducted in April 2018 to April 2019 and reviewed existing literature from published articles and national reports on the subject. Each document was examined and selected using the preview, question, read and summarize (PQRS) system outputs for review analysis. At the preview stage of PQRS, articles selection was based on the presence of at least two of the key words or phrases related to the subject content, which necessitated downloading of a document for literature review. A total of 67 articles were used for this review. After the PQRS, a meta-synthesis technique was used to evaluate, analyze and interpret the study findings from the literature review. The study recorded that there was excessive exploitation of timber from the indigenous woodlands of the Mutema-Musikavanhu communities in Save Valley that began in the 1890s to supply mines and the construction of railway infrastructure across south-eastern Zimbabwe. Timber exploitation has continued to date albeit changed use patterns, with timber currently used mainly for fuelwood in brickmaking, building construction and carpentry. Local traditional institutions that manage Save Valley’s woodland resources are diffuse and need to be supported by the government. Furthermore, poor coordination of policy implementation and enforcement among Forestry and Agricultural government agencies cause conflicts in land use and woodland management. We recommend continuous monitoring of woodland resource utilisation in communal and protected area in the Save Valley.