Senior Chief Nthondo of Ntchisi District has bemoaned rampant deforestation due to charcoal production.
He said this on Thursday at his headquarters during a stakeholders meeting where it was established that Ntchisi Forest and part of Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve are the most affected.
Senior Chief Nthondo said everyday he sees tonnes of charcoal being ferried from his jurisdiction to urban areas.
“I am disappointed with some community members who shield charcoal producers from Lilongwe and Nkhotakota and some traditional leaders who encourage the malpractice,” he said.
Ntchisi Police Station officer-in-charge Tiyese Chiumbuzo said deforestation is one of the causes of erratic rainfall and other effects of climate change.
He said: “We are ready to enforce the law and work with the community. We needed to come and appreciate the situation first and thereafter map a way forward on how best we can work towards resolving the issue.
“As police, we are ready to take an extra mile to solve the problem at hand.”
Chiumbuzo said they will intensify joint patrols with forestry officers and community leaders to curb the vice.
Ntchisi district forestry officer Jim Lukwale also affirmed the council’s commitment towards preserving forests in the district.
He said he was confident that through teamwork, deforestation will be a thing of the past.
Peter Banda, from Champhoyo in T/A Nthondo, said the district has many forests which are under threat to deforestation; hence, the need for collaboration to protect the resources.
