Communities empowered to protect environment

Multi Consult Africa, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has engaged youths in Traditional Authority Kambwiri in Salima in bee-keeping and mushroom production to stop them from producing charcoal.

Speaking on Tuesday during a tree-planting exercise in the area, the NGO’s team leader Collings Mitochi said youths need economic-empowerment to save the environment.

He said most forests in the area have been depleted due to charcoal production.

“It is high time we empowered our communities economically so that they stop relying on charcoal production,” said Mitochi.

Changunda Youth Club secretary Sarah Mbewe said they are benefiting from bee-keeping and mushroom production.

“As such, we cannot cut down trees for charcoal production,” she said.

Mbewe said they will continue to plant trees in the area to bring back the forests.

Group village head Chagunda thanked Multi Consult Africa for the initiative.

He asked people to protect trees in the area.