Villagers earn a living selling mopane worms

Villagers earn a living selling mopane worms

VILLAGERS in the Mangwe area in Matabeleland North province of Zimbabwe are earning a living through selling Mopane Worms (amacimbi) which are considered a delicacy in the region.

The mopane or mopani (Colophospermum mopane) tree grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas, 200-1150 m, in the far northern parts of southern Africa including Zimbabwe.

Mopane worms, are green and blue spiky caterpillars of the nocturnal Emperor Moth. Their innards are squeezed out, and they are boiled and sun dried before being eaten.

Various recipes exist for the preparation of mopane worms. When sundried, they can be fried and served with a sauce such as tomato, chilli, cheese or peanut. 
 

The worms are found in abundance in the area and a lot of people are surviving on selling the worms.

The Zimbabwe Guardian yesterday caught up scores of villagers selling the worms at Mangwe rural business centre.

“We had a lost of amacimbi this season because of plenty rains which we received. I sell a bag of amacimbi at $200 million and most of my clients come from as far as Harare and South Africa,” said Alice Ndlovu.

Another villager said he sells his worms to Bulawayo wholesalers.

“I have been in this business since 1992. I survive by selling the worms. Right now business is brisk and I have outstanding orders which I am failing to meet due to the high demand,” said another villager.

Some buyers from outside the area engage in barter trade with the peasants, offering them goods such as sugar, plastic plates and maize meal in exchange for the worms.

Although the villagers are making a living out of the natural delicacy what is worrying is the worm’s glaring harvesting effects on the environment.

The harvesting of the worms has left a trail of destruction of trees in the area.

Containing 60% protein and significant amounts of phosphorus, iron and calcium, the worms are unrivalled as an easily obtainable source of food for people living in the broad leaf savannah of Botswana, Zimbabwe and northern parts of South Africa.