Malawi army protects Perekezi Forest reserve in Mzimba
Malawi Defense Force (MDF) has appealed to people of Mzimba to protect Perekezi Forest Reserve .
Brigadier Laurence Mambo made the call on Wednesday at Perekezi Forest Reserve in the district where MDF soldiers from Moyale Barracks are patrolling the forest reserve as well as doing military exercises.
Mambo, who is also 101 Brigade Commander, bemoaned deforestation in forest where soldiers conduct exercises.
“If forests reserves have been depleted where are we going to conduct our jungle exercises? Forest reserves are our national assets and we need to protect our natural resources,” he said.
Mambo commended government for showing political will to preserve the environment which he said has motivated them to protect forest reserves.
“With support from government, we expect to see good results in patrolling forest reserves in the country,” he said.
Mambo also said the soldiers will not deny community members access to firewood and mushrooms from the forest during patrols.
On his part, Mzimba district commissioner Emmanuel Bambe commended MDF for patrolling the forest reserve.
He said: “Chikangawa forest, which used to be the largest man-made forest in southern Africa, has been depleted.
“Now people are depleting Perekezi, Forest Reserve, which is a source of major rivers in Mzimba.
On Monday, President Lazarus Chakwera condemned the destruction of forests in the country.
“Taking care of the environment is a civic duty. Everyone has to take part in protecting the environment.
“I, therefore, encourage chiefs to take a leading role in educating their subjects on the hazards of environmental degradation,” he said.
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Kodi nkhondo za my jungle zilipobe?
If one goes by the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle you will see that everything starts with leadership. If it is rotten up there then below it will be rotten as well. Our leaders from May 1994 – June 2020 were rotten except Bingu during his first term. Bingu corrected what Bakili Muluzi mess. Chakwera is to clear the rubble from 1994-2020 and please do it as you are the last hope for Malawi.
Dear MDF, jungle war is no more, so you must adapt your exercises to expect city war.
Blame it on the previous governments which let the charcoal business thrive. Having seen that they have finished the forests in the south and center, the human tree termites are now attacking forest in the north. Luwawa Forest is one of the most beautiful. The ministry of forestry has to work like before. They could stop fires in Zomba Mountain. Fires are destroying Chikangawa. The houses of the people who work for Forestry are in ruins. One wonders if we had governments after Kamuzu.