Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Synod of Livingstonia general secretary the Reverend William Tembo has called for harsher penalties against individuals who destroy the country’s national forests.
Speaking during the synod’s tree-planting launch at Lusangazi in Mzimba at the weekend, the cleric expressed disappointment over the country’s struggle with deforestation despite annual tree-planting campaigns across the country.
exercise. | Allan Nyasulu
He proposed that convicted offenders should be forced to replant trees in the areas they caused the damage.
Said Tembo: “There are people who are destroying forests and establishing camps in our natural forests, where they are burning charcoal and starting fires indiscriminately.
“They should be arrested and when convicted, they should be sent to Chikangawa, Dedza Forest or Mulanje Mountain to replant trees as part of their punishment.”
He also faulted the deployment of forest guards at roadblocks instead of inside the forests.
“We visited Champhira Forest in Mzimba under the escort of only one ranger with a single gun, facing dangerous plunderers ready to kill anyone in their way. The government must increase the number of forest rangers and station them inside forests, not at roadblocks,” said Tembo.
Traditional Authority Kampingo Sibande expressed concern over the high demand for charcoal, firewood, and timber in his area near Mzuzu City, which has resulted in significant forest degradation.
He said to tackle the challenge communities surrounding forests have created by-laws at Area Development Committee level which will be vetted and enforced by the district council.
On her part, Synod of Livingstonia Development Department board chairperson Stella Mwangonde said the exercise, themed ‘Restore forests and land to secure food production’ was aimed at supporting government efforts by planting 6 000 trees.
