Fires destroy Chikangawa Forest again

Ash over hills and valleys. Sooty stumps. Dry leaves. Smoke in the air. Charred remains of pine plots.

Wanton fires have once again devastated vast parts of Viphya Plantation (also called Chikangawa Forest) in Mzimba, leaving government and concessionaires worried about its future.

For three months, the forest has been in flames almost 10 times and forest officials say it will never be the same.

Plantation manager Wellington Nyondo estimates that nearly 200 hectares, out of 53 501 assigned to pine trees, have gone up in flames this summer alone, with the leading wood producer Raiply Malawi Limited experiencing seven spates of fire, which have led to the loss of 92 hectares of both young and old trees it holds on concession from government.

The picture shows some of the gutted plots at Mazamba. — JAMES CHAVULA, Mzuzu Bureau Supervisor