Malawi changes tune on torching of 4 tonnes of ivory

Government has said it will not set ablaze the four tonnes of ivory it confiscated from poachers, five months after President Peter Mutharika wanted to put the pieces on fire.

Impounded ivory in Malawi
Impounded ivory in Malawi

Director of Parks and Wildlife Brighton Kunchedwa said the ivory could be used for education and cultural purposes.

He, however,  could not say where the government is keeping the ivory but said the pieces are safe.

In March this year, the government halted the torching in public of the ivory saying some of them were part of the ivory which were used as evidence in a court case in Mzuzu.

However, the Mzuzu court case was concluded and the over 700 pieces of ivory were burned in public.

Some people faulted the government for burning the ivory saying there were chances for negotiations to sell off the ivory so that the money goes into the government coffers.

Wildlife experts say the population of elephants continues to dwindle rapidly due to the killings of the animals for its tusks.

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