K1bn Viphya row takes new turn

The wrangle over correct demarcations in Viphya Plantations has taken a new twist, with main concessionaire Raiply Malawi Limited challenging Capital Hill over its recent report that accused the company of fraud.

In the geographic information system (GIS) mapping report released mid last year, government claimed it has lost over K1 billion from illegal sewing of timber in Viphya Plantation popularly known as Chikangawa Forest in Mzimba District.

It claimed that some concessionaires have been conducting business outside their designated areas, and the alleged major culprit being Raiply.

However, Raiply spokesperson Dalitso Chimwala yesterday said the GIS mapping report did not come up with new details, indicating, the whole concession is 28 000 hectares (ha), but that planted area is 20 000 ha.

He said: “So, compounds, including where the Chikangawa offices, residents, roads, firebreaks, rocks and streams occupy 8 000 ha. This is clear in the 1999 concession agreement and the subsequent revised agreements.

“It should be noted that the company was not given parameters of the mapping survey report, as the plantation manager only indicated it was meant to give practical experience to students who had been learning GIS mapping. Further, more dissemination of the results is not done yet.”

Chimwala said terms provide that anything concerning the concession should be tabled, discussed and consensus reached before dissemination.

“Also GIS should apply to the whole Viphya, which if we include non-productive areas, is over 98 000ha, but we usually talk about 53 000ha.

“We have actually asked the Department of Forestry to call for a press conference involving all concessionaires and clarify this openly. We were accused of denying government resources. We have also asked the department to redo the GIS mapping involving all concessionaires,” he added.

The GIS verified boundaries between Raiply Malawi Limited (Raiply) and Kawandama Hills Plantation at compartment 214C, Raiply and Consolidated Processing Industry at compartment Z33A, Raiply and Reformed Timber Millers union at compartment Z82B and determine the total concession areas for both Raiply and KHP.

It discovered that Raiply’s current area, originally recorded as 20 000 ha, was verified to be 28 550.30 ha, while KHP’s area, initially stated as 7 350.37 ha, was verified as 7 955.22 ha.

In a recent interview, Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, Yusuf Mkungula, said he initiated the inquiry after noticing some fishy business in the plantation.

“What we will do now is that for those that have been illegally getting trees beyond their concessions, we will have discussions on how best we can recover the resources,” he said.