Illegal loggers scare away Viphya forest guards with load muzzles: Malawi army deployed

Department of Forestry has described as aggression the move by illegal loggers in Viphya forest who are scaring away guards with locally made muzzle loaders.

Viphya plantation

Spokesperson for the Forestry department Sangwani Phiri says government has now engaged Malawi Defense Force soldiers to confront the people who are using muzzle loaders in the forest.

“We have deployed soldiers to take on the illegal loggers,” he said.

He warned people should refrain from entering the forest as doing so would make them engage directly with the soldiers currently guarding the forest.

The forest has been closed from November 2016 to April 2017.

“The MDF soldiers will not take it lightly,” said Phiri.

The MDF soldiers are also guarding other forests including Dzalanyama in Lilongwe and Mulanje where some people have been killed.

The soldiers have been condemned for using excessive force in their exercise of protecting the forests.

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Kuba kwa Mbiri
Kuba kwa Mbiri
7 years ago

This government is not interested in protecting any natural resources in the Northern Region . Right from the top all the way down the ladder . The Minister and the Director of Forestry and Natural Resources, most of the Viphya Plantation Manager’s that have worked there have been from other regions and have come out of Viphya rich. Ironically Peter the president has been there doing timber business with Mulli Most of the boys from MDF being sent to Viphya Plantation are mostly from other regions,? It’s not known if it’s mare coincidence or not . They are also involved… Read more »

Hlabezulu Ngonoonda
Hlabezulu Ngonoonda
7 years ago

Government should remove the concession it gave to the one who is taking care of Chikangawa Forest. Its management is negligent. It should then entrust the management of that forest to Departmen of Forestry under the close supervision of the foresters from the Government of Finland with the Military Police of MDF providing total security. Those Tanzanians allude to by Tozer Tsono, if indeed true, should be smooked out followed by mopping up operations. Look at Chikala Hills in Machinga with its natural trees. It looks splendid. Chikangawa Forest was under proper management during the reign of the late Dr.… Read more »

tozer tsono
tozer tsono
7 years ago

Well, it goes without saying; the Malawi government, that is short on cash is suspect or complicit or both, as revealed by her lackluster security structure around this valuable resource. Why protect the forest in Mulanje but not in Chikangawa? Mind you, the people around the resource have faithfully preserved the forest for many decaded, so that the government can use it to benefit the communities around and at large. But in this case, people from Tanzania seem to have discovered Chikangawa and are carting off logs at will. Can a Malawian do the same in Tanzania? Something is wrong… Read more »

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