Malawi army soldiers want Chikangawa forest closed for four years
Soldiers from Malawi Defense Force have advised the government to close Chikangawa forest for four years in order to bring back depleted trees in the biggest man made forest in southern Africa.
Stanley Saidi, commandant officer for Moyale Barracks said the trees and size of the forest continue to dwindle because of illegal logging.
“The closing of the forest for a few months, say five months, is not helping matters at all,” he said.
Most of the illegal loggers export the wood to Kenya and other countries.
Saidi said the soldiers guarding the forest have so far confiscated heavy machinery and three trucks full of wood.
Spokesperson for the Forestry Department Sangwani Phiri said the issue of extension of the closure of the forest will be brought to the Malawi Forestry Board which will make a final say on the matter.
The ministry of Energy and Environmental Affairs has engaged soldiers to protect forests in Chikangawa, Dzalanyama, Dedza and Mulanje.
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Would the Army also protect Toleza forest in area of TA Nsamala in Balaka. It is a very big forest of about 120 quare kilometers from Dziwe to Utale 2 a distance of 12 kilometers to the north and shire river a distance of 10 kilometers to its south
Yea maganizo abwino asilikali athu koma mbuzi zandalezi zisatsutse ayi……keepitup our beloved soldiers.
The politicians will block that because most of that heavy sawing equipment belongs to them or their cronies. You may be shocked to discover that they are behind that international syndicate.
bravo,but pay those soldiers accordingly not k600/day(six hunds) you are cheating on them pliz
Brilliant idea. bravo our good soldiers.
This is a perfect suggestion. The forest should be closed for some years. Even Raiy Ply shud not haverst trees. Meanwhile, the soilders should impound trucks destined for Kenya and Tanzania. They should also arresta all foreigners in the forest for illegal operation
So the soldiers are more brilliant and responsible than the whole management of Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources. Kudos our soldiers you love your country but the ministry of forestry will let you Down because they depend on kickbacks from the illegal loggers
I had thought like this all along. We really need an extended period of closure of the forest. Unfortunately it is the politicians controlling the forest, after all it is them benefiting from the resources. I doubt they will accept this.