Times Of Swaziland: WILLIAM PITCHER STUDENTS TURN SANDANEZWE WEED TO CHARCOAL

WILLIAM PITCHER STUDENTS TURN SANDANEZWE WEED TO CHARCOAL
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BY SITHEMBILE HLATSHWAYO on 24/06/2018 08:54:00


MANZINI – They might have joined the teaching profession thinking they would
be educators. However, seemingly, ENACTUS William Pitcher students who won the
Preliminary round of the ENACTUS Swaziland competition, now have a change of
heart.
The students have realised a business opportunity of collecting an invasive
alien plant species, otherwise known as sandanezwe, around communities infested
with it to turn it to gold.
They are converting the invasive species to lump wood charcoal, which is then
sold to the public through partnership with shops, including OK Foods, Richfield
Butchery in Nhlangano and the Galp Filling Station.
This project was competing under league two with AMADI, University of Swaziland
(Mbabane Campus), Southern African Nazarene University (Siteki) and Limkokwing
University of Creative Technology.
This project was first adopted and implemented at Ngculwini community, and has
further expanded to Mahlalini chiefdom.
Chief Executive Officer of the project Basil Magongo said invasive plant species
could decimate a country’s native species by attacking or out-competing them
for nutrients, water, space and breeding sites.
Magongo said as a result, the availability and quality of natural resources were
diminished by their presence.
He said invasive plants dominated pastures and crop fields, particularly if they
had allelopathic properties, which means they release chemicals that suppress
the growth of other nearby plants.
Magongo said the increased cost of land preparation and maintenance led to a
serious concern for farmers.
“Invasive plants can also modify nutrient availability, by affecting soil pH
for example, and cause land degradation and erosion.”
According to Magongo, they had been able to impact communities they worked in
through the project.