Concerned citizens in Malawi fight against activities on Mulanje Mountain
Concerned citizens and group village headmen from Senior Chief Mkanda in Mulanje District have asked Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) and Springstone Malawi Limited to stop carrying out all activities on Mulanje Mountain.
A letter which Nyasa Times possesses, addressed to the Chief Executive for MMCT and the Manager for Springstone Malawi Limited states that the two institutions should stop their operations with immediate effect otherwise member of the general public physically chase them.
The letter undersigned by Member of Parliament for Mulanje Pasani, Peter Nowa, C. Ntambalika, renowned comedian, Bon Kalindo and 68 group village headmen from Senior Chief Mkanda’s area said that the two companies have exploited the natural resources in the mountain which they said it was so attractive to tourists.
“It has come to our notice that the two companies did not come here to conserve and explore on the resources of the mountain but rather destroyed them,” reads part of the letter.
According to the letter which has also copied to Dr Kalindekafe, Geological Survey in Zomba and the District Commissioner for Mulanje district, says Mulanje Mountain for many years attracted a lot of tourists and up lifted the living standard of the people around the mountain.
The concerned also observed that Mulanje Mountain has been cleared to a bare ground of which in the past used to have a thick forest.
“During our visit to the top of the mountain, we observed that the mountain which used to have a thick forest has been reduced to a bare ground and this development has enabled Springstone Malawi Limited to embark on mining,” it reads.
The letter has also expressed discontent with establishment of the mining project at the mountain.
The letter has therefore has asked the authorities to leave the mountain to the Department of Forest saying managed the affairs of the mountain in the transparent and accountable manner.
“If they do not take heed of these instructions, we as custodians of the mountain, will have no option but take the laws into our hands by physically chasing themout,” warned the letter.
Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) is an environmental endowment trust based in Mulanje funded by World Bank and aims at providing long-term reliable support for biodiversity research and conservation of biological diversity and sustainable utilization of resources of the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
