By Winston Muleba JR
Everything that has been available naturally on the earth has advantages to humans. There is no exception with anthills.
Years ago, anthills were common and close natural resources available in various communities. Many adults of today, took these resources for recreational places. However, some anthills were and are still no go areas as they are best habitats for snakes, bees, ants, other harmful and strange creatures.
According to 'sciencing', anthills are created as a by-product of worker ants
digging subterranean tunnels. In fact, ants in general move more earth (soil) than any other organism, including earthworms. As the worker ants dig out the colony's tunnels, they dispose of the displaced earth by carrying it back out of the colony and depositing it near the entrance. They also dispose of any garbage found in the colony in this way. They carry these tiny bits of dirt and garbage in their mandibles. Usually, this combination of materials is dropped off at the top of the anthill, so it does not slide back down the hole into the
colony, although some species of ants work to cultivate a specific shape to their anthills.
In addition, all anthills are interlaced with many chambers which are connected by tunnels. These small rooms are used for nurseries, storing food, and even as resting places for the worker ants. During the day, the worker ants move the larvae up to the rooms nearer the top of the anthill, to keep them warmer. At night, they move them
back to the lower chambers of the nest.
The design of these anthills varies depending on the species of ant. Some ants create soft, low hills out of dirt or sand. Others create towering creations of clay.
The design of these anthills varies depending on the species of ant. Some ants create soft, low hills out of dirt or sand. Others create towering creations of clay.
Over time, anthills have become hot cakes among citizens to an extent that new business ventures of selling them have cropped up. Therefore, finding anthills today in communities: townships and compounds is no common as the case was years ago. However, some people get rid of anthills in order to create space on their plots or farms and others get rid of them in order to prevent harmful creatures terrorizing their yards.
1. Construction:
Lately, in every township and/or compound there is atleast a house or structure built with local burnt clay blocks. The materials used to make these clay blocks are soils from anthills. Its funny that today people to allocated residential plots on land with atleast an anthill. Years go it was burden when one is allocated a residential plot with an anthill on it.
A study on 'formalising local building materials: Making a case for local clay blocks in Zambia' reveals that Zambian Government adopted Enabling Shelter Strategies in the 1996 National Housing Policy (NHP) whose main goal was to provide ‘adequate affordable housing for all income groups in Zambia’. Prior to this, housing strategies were spelt out in 5 year National Development Plans as part ot the overall national development strategy. During this period, housing was regarded as a social right, and the management and construction of housing was largely the responsibility of local governments and parastatal organizations.
The government not only sought to adopt better designs of houses for people but increase the housing stock and offer higher standards like electricity, water and all weather roads. Integration of previously segregated housing between European and African locations was also a priority.
The government not only sought to adopt better designs of houses for people but increase the housing stock and offer higher standards like electricity, water and all weather roads. Integration of previously segregated housing between European and African locations was also a priority.
The study further indicates that the 1996 housing policy revealed that of Zambia’s 1, 768, 287 housing units, only thirty- one percent of the total housing stock was formal and fully approved in accordance with prevailing statutory regulations and building standards. The remaining sixty-nine percent was informal because they were built using unconventional standards and methods thus illegal according to Zambian Building Codes.
It was estimated that to clear the housing backlog, which stood at over one million units in 1996, a building rate of approximately 110, 000 dwelling units per annum would be required over a ten-year period. This backlog took into consideration the formation of new households, natural population growth rate and the need to upgraded existing informal settlememnts among other factors. These statistics have not significantly changed since. There has been no significant improvement in the number of dwelling units, while the housing backlog has increased due to shortages in housing relative to population growth and migration according to CSO in 2003.
It was estimated that to clear the housing backlog, which stood at over one million units in 1996, a building rate of approximately 110, 000 dwelling units per annum would be required over a ten-year period. This backlog took into consideration the formation of new households, natural population growth rate and the need to upgraded existing informal settlememnts among other factors. These statistics have not significantly changed since. There has been no significant improvement in the number of dwelling units, while the housing backlog has increased due to shortages in housing relative to population growth and migration according to CSO in 2003.
Apart from the now defunct Presidential Housing Initiative (PHI), no efforts have been made practically to implement the recommendations made in the NHP because there is no coherent implementation strategy.
The informal sector however, continues to grow at an alarming rate. For instance, between 2000 and 2006, eight new settlements sprung up in the City of Kitwe alone. This is partly because the rate at which the public and private sector produces new housing stock in the city falls far short of demand. This scenario is reflective of the overall national picture.
The informal sector however, continues to grow at an alarming rate. For instance, between 2000 and 2006, eight new settlements sprung up in the City of Kitwe alone. This is partly because the rate at which the public and private sector produces new housing stock in the city falls far short of demand. This scenario is reflective of the overall national picture.
With this background in mind coupled with new prices of cement and transport costs to buy and transport quarry dust or flux stone from Lafarge Cement, Zambezi Portland, Dangote Cement, Ndola Lime, or Handymans Lime companies to their respective plots, it proves to be expensive. Thus people resort to burning clay blocks.
It is no secret that the housing deficit in Zambia is high.
And not so long ago, Eastern province permanent secretary Chanda Kasolo also said that Zambia’s population would be in excess of 23 million by 2030 adding that the country would experience housing deficit of over 3 million units if no major interventions were put in place.
A report on 'social housing as an affordable housing for an average Zambian' by Partners Guide Magazine indicates that an Estate Agent, Ms. Rabecca Nayame from Sherwood Greene in Ndola says housing crisis is affecting hundreds of thousands of households (mainly lower income). The standard explanation for the current crisis is that rent and house prices are rising dramatically because of a lack of supply of accommodation and increasing demand.
And Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR) Consultant, Dr Emmanuel Mutale also adds that the construction of over 120,000 per year was the only solution to avoid housing deficit.
Therefore, it is suffice to conclude in no time all anthill in communities will be utilized in respect of infrastructure development especially that they are a cheap resource and readily available. This will pose a positive impact on infrastructure development in the country and negative impact on future generations as there will be no more anthills nearby to use for housing construction as it is today.
2. Agriculture:
Anthills may provide shelter for ants, but they are also essential to the small-scale farmers. As such, many small scale farmers in Mkushi, Mpongwe, Lufwanyama and other places use anthills to fertilize their soils in the sandy soils at a time when the price of chemical fertilizers has gone beyond their reach.
Studies indicate that when the farmers mix the anthill soil into their top soil during land preparation, it acts just like the fertilizer improving the soil texture and clay content.
Anthill soil help retain soil moisture and texture and assist the soil hold each other together ensuring crops are not easily swept by floods or strong winds.
However, the caution to farmers is that they should strive to test anthill soils before applying for purposes of ensuring a good balance of nutrients in the farm, this is because ants pick different forms of soil. It is important to note that some of the soils are alkaline and could be dangerous for the crops.
Overall, anthills are important for clay content improvement and soil texture so that the nitrogen and other plant nutrients and micro nutrients that are important to the growth of the plant remain available in the soil.
Therefore, following the benefits of anthills on farmlands and high rate of anthill destruction in communities for the purpose of block making, it is no doubt that many small scale farmers in future will suffer a negative effect at the expense of infrastructure development.
Therefore, following the benefits of anthills on farmlands and high rate of anthill destruction in communities for the purpose of block making, it is no doubt that many small scale farmers in future will suffer a negative effect at the expense of infrastructure development.
3. Health:
An anthill is more than just a home for the ants or place where they can store foods.
Studies indicate that anthill is now known as one of natural and alternative medicine for cancer treatment. Well, anthill or myrmecodia pendans that comes from Papua are different with the common species of anthill found at home. By the native people in the eastern part of
Indonesia, the anthill has been used as a natural treatment for various diseases from generation to generation. Finally, experts have discovered what exactly owned by these ants nest. They found some active ingredients like phenolic, antioxidant, flavonoids, tocopherols, various minerals and anti-cancer substances.
And now, the advantages offered by the ants nest from Papua have been able to be obtained by many people in the world. Many of them get recovered from serious diseases including cancer without having to take chemotherapy, biopsy or surgery.
And now, the advantages offered by the ants nest from Papua have been able to be obtained by many people in the world. Many of them get recovered from serious diseases including cancer without having to take chemotherapy, biopsy or surgery.
The way to consume the anthill is not too complicated. It is quite easy and a person does not need to explore Papua just to get the ant nest. It has been marketed both
nationwide and internationally. With the proper packaging, dry powder and water extract capsules, the consumption gets easier too.
Meanwhile, research finds that there are many reasons why people tend to look for alternative solutions to their health problems rather than just follow what the doctor recommends. One of the excuses expressed by the patients is the worry about the chemical contents of the given drugs.
Although the medical field has been more advanced, the natural remedies seems still offering the safer solution and equal
effectiveness to treat various diseases. It is also including the cancer.
Research finds that pregnant women crave for the anthill soil because they believe it is good for health. In this vein, it has been. discovered there are two types of soils mostly enjoyed by none and expecting women in Zambia. The white one which is dug on anthills near river banks and the darker one which is dug from anthills not near river banks.
The common belief is that anthill soils have lots of minerals; more Iron than in meat and that it is also capable of cleansing the liver, improving nutrient
assimilation and strengthening the immune system.
However, not so much research has been conducted regarding this matter but other reports suggest that pregnant women have been advised against consuming anthill soil in order to prevent delivery-related complications. Owing to this, it must be noted that some soil types contain unhealthy materials that have no nutritional benefits, hence could put the expecting mother and unborn babies at risk. Meanwhile, other anthill soils types are dangerous because they hold many harmful elements such as toxins which could cause harm to human life.
4. Education:
Anthill bumps can provide an interesting educational experience, an aesthetic eyesore, or a hazard for humans and pets – depending on which kind of ants have made the mound and where it's located. With over 30,000 species of ants building many different kinds of mounds, the
creatures in communities may or may not require attention.
Integrated and environmental science have components of ecology and soil topics that teachers easily teach with references to anthill soils.
At higher institutions of learning, 'Fundamentals of Soil Science' is a course in programmes such as Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics at Zambia Open University and Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences with a major in Soil Science at University of Zambia. Lecturers and students at Natural Resource Development College (NRDC), Mpika School of Agriculture, Mulungushi University also don't struggle to demonstrate types of soils and their sources; soil profiles etc. However, in an event that nearby anthills are all destroyed in respect of infrastructure development, future students would be subjected only to theories as most institutions do not have enough resources for field trips.
Therefore, traveling around in search of anthills for education purposes would be regarded a waste of time.
5. Mining:
Mineral exploration in Zambia is very expensive because resources tend to be well below the surface and drilling is required to find out what is there.
But according to research findings, anthills or termite mounds could indicate where gold or other mineral deposits lie beneath the surface. Local people are also custodians of knowing soils which signifies mineral deposits beneath.
According to a report on 'copper mining in Zambia - history and
future' indicates that although on a small scale, the mining activities by the natives were wide spread across the Copperbelt region and other places.
In fact, most of the deposits discovered by the settlers were found with the assistance of local scouts, who had knowledge of the whereabouts of the copper minerals.
The Chibuluma mine deposits are the only ones in Zambia known to have been discovered without information passed on from the local people.
It was the presence of copper in Zambia which led to the region being put under British indirect rule in 1889 after the partition of Africa.
The years following 1889 saw extensive exploration activities in the region by western companies and individuals. Exploration activities led to the first commercial copper being produced at Kansanshi, Solwezi, in 1908 (Roan Consolidated Copper Mines, 1978).
The years following 1889 saw extensive exploration activities in the region by western companies and individuals. Exploration activities led to the first commercial copper being produced at Kansanshi, Solwezi, in 1908 (Roan Consolidated Copper Mines, 1978).
Later, prospectors obtained concessions from the British South African Company (BSA) which had obtained mining rights in the area from King Lewanika of the Lozi in 1900. As more copper deposits were found, Zambia was put under direct British rule as a protectorate under the Colonial Office in 1924.
Post-1924 saw the beginning of massive investments in mine developments, led mainly by American and South African companies.
And Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) believes that even small termite mounds could be reliable markers, and that termites themselves may be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly means of finding new mineral deposits.
So destroying all anthills in areas with mineral deposits such as Lufwanyama, Kalumbila, Mkushi, Serenje, Chinsali would demand a lot of resources for explorations.
Generally, anthills are important resources to Zambia's key sectors. However, they are a non renewable resources therefore they are bound to finnish if not well preserved.
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About the Author:
Winston Muleba Junior is a Researcher, Citizen Journalist, Blogger, Aquaculturist, Writer and Disaster Management Practitioner who uses media and ICT to promote environmental conservation; science, technology and innovation. He gravitates towards environment: water, aquaculture, land, climate change and agriculture as he is skilled at juxtaposing the latest research and expert opinion with the everyday lives and struggles of people on the ground. Email: mwenyamuleba@gmail.com
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