Court urges dialogue in Viphya face-off
Mzuzu-based High Court judge Dingiswayo Madise has directed the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining and Timber Millers Cooperatives Union to hold talks within 14 days to resolve the impasse over Viphya Plantation.
The court’s decision follows the union’s protest against government’s decision to prematurely terminate their contracts.
Government accuses the union of not paying royalties and employing unsustainable ways in their harvesting of timber.
However, the union dismisses the accusations and, among others, mention political interference as a stumbling block.
But Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining spokesperson Sangwani Phiri dismissed political interference claims and that the union was given a smaller area than the agreement stipulated.
In the meantime, the ministry plans to deploy Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers in the plantation to push out those who do not comply.
Said Phiri: “Government will also quite shortly engage members of the Malawi Defence Force in the Viphya Plantation the very same way it does with the same men and women in uniform in the protection of the Dzalanyama Forest Reserve.
“It, therefore, would like to send a very strong warning to whoever would like to continue operating in the Viphya Plantation to immediately stop before September 8, 2015 as any defiance will see the operators being forced out,” said Phiri.
The forest’s woes
It has not been a rosy relationship between government and Viphya timber millers over the years.
Each year, parts of the forest are burnt. Last year, government estimated the burnt area at 200 hectares (ha) of the 53 000ha forest reserve.
In 2010, government raised the price of timber and forestry products from K1 500 per cubic metre to K10 000 per cubic metre. The revised prices were said to be comparable to prices obtained in the region, including South Africa (K12 000), Tanzania and Kenya (K11 250).
However, in September 2013, government succumbed to pressure from the millers by reverting to old prices.
