Malawi army soldiers slash crops in protected forest areas

Over 40 soldiers took some villagers by surprise when they slashed crops in over 100 hectares of land in the protected Mua Lifulezi forest in chief Kachindamoto’s area in Dedza.

District Forestry officer Alick Mitawa confirmed his department engaged the soldiers after the villagers failed to respond to calls not to cultivate in the forest.

“Actually, they have now enchroached over 1000 hectares of land and the soldiers have so far reclaimed over 100 hectares. The process is still going on,” he said.

The forestry officer said the government would do everything to ensure that its stops environment degradation due to such farming malpractices.

Chief Kachindamoto said it was not true that the government did not give notice before telling soldiers to invade the forest.

“My subjects were given all the time, they were warned not to cultivate in the protected areas because the consequences are huge,” she said.

She said her area is suffering from environmental degradation because of such bad farming practices which she said must stop.