By Chisomo Phiri
Minister of Tourism, Vera Kamtukule, on Wednesday handed over four newly constructed staff houses to rangers at Lake Malawi National Park in Monkey Bay, Mangochi.
The houses, constructed under the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP) with funds from the World Bank, are a significant asset to improving the welfare of rangers.
Speaking during the handover, Kamtukule urged rangers to take good care of the houses, emphasizing that they are a valuable resource for their benefit.
“Regard these houses as your own, not the government’s. I want to see these houses in good condition when I come again in the next six months.
“If they are not well-maintained, you will have to find alternative accommodation outside the park, which will be inconvenient and expensive for you,” said Kamtukule.
The Minister pledged the government’s commitment to providing rangers with good accommodation, highlighting the importance of investing in human capital.
She commended MWASIP and the World Bank for supporting her ministry, through the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, to construct modern houses for the rangers.
MWASIP Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Team member, James Kumwenda, praised the Department of National Parks and Wildlife for utilizing Performance Based Grants effectively, aligning with the project’s objectives.
He explained that MWASIP provides grants to institutions focusing on watershed management, including the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Department of Forestry, and National Water Resources Authority.
Councilor Martin Milanzi, representing the Chairperson for Mangochi District Council, hailed the construction of the houses as a significant and timely move.
He anticipated that the houses will motivate rangers to be dedicated to their duty of patrolling the park, leading to intensified patrols and prevention of illegal fishing and destruction of the forest.
The Lake Malawi National Park is the world’s first freshwater national park and a World Heritage Site, found at Cape Maclear at the southern end of Lake Malawi.
The park includes a land area around the cape and bay as well as the Lake and islands up to 100 metres (330ft) offshore.
