Parks, Wildlife officers outline challenges

Officers working in the Department of National Parks and Wildlife in the Northern Division have outlined challenges affecting the department’s work.

The officers said this on Thursday when Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Aggrey Masi met them.

Speaking during the meeting at Mzuzu Nature Sanctuary, the division’s manager George Nxumayo said the division is understaffed, a development that is negatively affecting the fight against poaching mostly in Nyika National Park and Vwaza Wildlife Reserve.

Commenting on the issue, one of the game rangers at Vwaza Wildlife Reserve, Patrick Chiwoko, said at least 100 suspected poachers have been arrested in the reserve this year.

According to Chiwoko, the reserve has 26 rangers only who cover about 1 000 square kilometres.

“We are overworking and we spend sleepless nights which is a big challenge,” he said.

Chiwoko also asked the ministry to review their field allowances which he said are “very low” as they spend 15 days of the month in the bush.

“We have been asking for a raise for 10 years now but to no avail,” he said.

In his remarks, Department of Parks and Wildlife director Bright Kumchedwa described the concerns as genuine.

According to Kumchedwa, the staff are living in a difficult environment far from facilities such as hospitals.

“Some of these people cover 120 kilometres to access Rumphi District Hospital,” he said. n