‘Area looks beautiful’: UK ambassador praises Mmbelwa Kingdom’s forest cover

The UK’s ambassador to Malawi has praised environmental conservation initiatives in Mmbelwa Kingdom, Mzimba district, during a visit to the Royal Palace at eDingeni.

Her Excellency Leigh Stubblefield met King Mmbelwa V on Saturday, where she commended the monarch for guiding his subjects in protecting forest cover in the district.

“The area looks beautiful with tree cover and the environment looks good. Such an environment is key when handling issues to do with climate change. We are looking at how best we can help with aid to develop agribusiness in this area,” she said.

King Mmbelwa V said the visit reflected a longstanding relationship between the British and the Ngoni people of Mmbelwa Kingdom.

“Her visit cements that relationship because our great grandfathers have been working with the British from time immemorial.

“We have discussed a number of issues concerning development. We have looked at a number of opportunities that if all goes well, our communities will be benefitting from the British High Commission,” he said.

The king said Mzimba’s fertile land made it well suited to further development, and he had asked the ambassador to consider bringing irrigation initiatives to the area.

On conservation, King Mmbelwa V said plans were under way to ensure every village in the district had its own forest.

“Mzimba is one of the areas where you can find trees that are still standing. We are however notsatisfied because Mzimba was not like this.

“We intend to have a village forest for each and every village. In that way, we think we will bring back the cover that we have lost,” he said.