By Shaffie A Mtambo
In a bold move to combat the alarming rate of deforestation in Zomba Plateau, Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Dr. Owen Chomanika, has announced the deployment of Malawi Defence Forces (MDF) soldiers to the area. This decision was made during a stakeholders meeting in Zomba, where the minister expressed sadness over the rampant illegal harvesting of trees, posing a significant threat to future generations.
The MDF will be granted the authority to apprehend anyone found entering the plantation to harvest timber. Additionally, the minister revealed that licenses of some concessionaires, who were contributing to the massive harvesting of young trees, would be revoked. Corruption among stakeholders, including forest officers, police, and cooperatives, was identified as a significant factor in the malpractice.
The proposal to deploy the MDF was welcomed by Senior Chief Mlumbe, who acknowledged the extensive damage done to the Zomba Plateau. The Chief Executive Officer for the Southern Region Water Board, Dunken Chimphamba, also offered to take over 1,000 hectares of the plantation, employing forest guards to protect it.
The stakeholders meeting was prompted by public outcry over the massive destruction of the forest, with hundreds of people seen carrying logs of trees from the forest just last week. The deployment of the MDF marks a decisive step towards protecting Malawi’s natural resources and ensuring a sustainable future.
