Assemblies of God Care programmes manager Daves Mtoseni has urged communities living near protected wildlife reserves in Salima District to coexist with animals to mutually enjoy benefits from the environment.
He said this at Liwonde National Park in Traditional Authority Sitola (T/A) in Machinga District when communities surrounding Thuma and Kuti wildlife reserves in Salima visited Liwonde Nation Park to learn some lessons.
| Lovemore Khomo
The organisation is implementing a Scaling Up Converse project to reduce human-wildlife conflict and promote healthy ecosystems and the conservation of endangered species in Salima District.
The Salima team was led by T/As Kalonga, Kambwiri and Chisamba together with members of their area development committees.
Mtoseni elaborated that they ferried Salima chiefs because they are custodians of the by-laws in their communities; hence, it was important to learn from their counterparts in Machinga on how to coexist with wildlife.
He said: “We want community leaders from Salima to learn how communities surrounding Liwonde National Park are managing wild animals.
“We want the people to exchange notes on how to handle wildlife issues such as facing problems with wild pigs, monkeys and birds and find solutions to legally control them.”
T/A Sitola of Machinga commended the organisation for taking chiefs from Salima to Liwonde and expressed hope that the knowledge will help to protect the environment.
On his part, T/A Kalonga of Salima pointed out the need for concerted efforts to ensure that people are not interfering with wildlife and vice-versa.
Salima District Council community development officer McField Zilambalala said the learning visit will help other communities living near protected reserves to take responsibility to protect the environment.
With funds from Jersey Overseas Aid Commission through Tearfund, Assemblies of God Care is implementing Scaling Up Conservation of Endangered Natural Resources for Sustainable Economic Returns and Value Empowerment project in Salima, Mzimba and Rumphi.
