Ethnobotanical surveys were carried out between January 2011 and April 2012 to compile an inventory
of plants used medicinally by people of the Matebele village. A semi-structured questionnaire was used
to collect data on the species used by the villagers. The results show that 65 species (86.1% indigenous

The spread of plants from one country to another through intentional and unintentional human activities is a serious threat to the world’s biodiversity; second only to habitat destruction. However, a number of studies have shown that invasive alien plant species can positively contribute to rural economies.