Malawi commits to address environmental issues

Malawi has expressed commitment in addressing some of the environmental issues affecting communities in the country.

This was part of the resolutions made at the fourth session of the United Nations Environmental Assembly (Unea) held in Nairobi, Kenya last week under the theme Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Production and Consumption.

On his return from the meeting on Friday, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Werani Chilenga said Malawi’s participation highlighted the country’s commitment to the environmental agenda.

“The conference also highlighted Malawi’s firm commitment to a new deal for nature and people through the development of a global agenda for bio-diversity conservation. Our natural capital is important to our economy and our very survival, and we need to protect it,” he said.

The conference also gave a chance for Malawi to highlight profile and success stories in combating illegal wildlife trade through a presentation that was made to that end.

“In collaboration with the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust we made a presentation highlighting Malawi’s success story in combating illegal wildlife trade and restoring some of our game reserves to their former glory.

“President Peter Mutharika is the patron of Malawi Parliamentary Caucus on Preservation, and in 2016 he declared total war on wildlife crimes and here we are today telling the whole world how we have succeeded in that,” said Chilenga.

He emphasised that as a country, Malawi will ensure it implements the resolutions that have been passed.

In January this year, Director of National Parks and Wildlife Brighton Kumchedwa said Malawi had registered remarkable progress in the protection of the country’s wildlife and game reserves, thanks to the passing of the Wildlife Act Amendment Bill in 2017.

The bill gives courts the power to put wildlife criminals behind bars for up to 30 years without an option of a fine.

“With this legislation that has strengthened penalty provisions, we have seen stiffer sentences given to wildlife criminals,” Kumchedwa said.

According to a report by Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, before the amendment bill was passed, enforcement and penalties for the crimes were weak.

Since the launch of the amendment Act, courts have passed stiffer custodial sentences of up to 18 years.