ACB says corruption worsens deforestation

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) says corruption has contributed to deforestation in the country.

ACB director Reyneck Matemba said this yesterday in Blantyre when the bureau planted trees at Mudi Catchment Forest Reserve as one way of conserving water in Mudi River which is the main water source for Blantyre Water Board (BWB).

He noted that corruption is rampant in both security agencies and Forestry Department as people involved in tree cutting business, such as charcoal burning, bribe officers to take their trees and tree products to marketplaces.

“Some of the deforestation that we have witnessed in this country is a direct result of corrupt activities. People are able to access both natural and artificial forests because they bribe their way through. After cutting the trees, they are able to transport them through the roadblock. Customs, immigration, environmental affairs officers, they are all involved,” said Matemba.

He warned all officers fuelling deforestation that they will be taken to book if found.

The ACB director said the bureau has so far managed to revoke dubious licences from some tree harvesting firms at Chikangawa Forest and arrested police officers connected with deforestation.

Matemba urged Malawians to take responsibility of conserving the environment.

In an interview on the sidelines of the tree planting exercise, BWB laboratory technician Precious Puzani commended the bureau for the initiative and appealed to the corporate world to emulate the action.

He noted that the removal of Ndirande residents who encroached the area has for the past three years led to increased water level at Mudi Dam.