Malawi MPs receive death threats

Some members of the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources are reportedly receiving death threats from suspected masterminds of illegal round wood exports from this country, Weekend Nation has learnt.

In an exclusive interview this week, the committee’s chairperson Welani Chilenga expressed worry over the threats from anonymous phone callers after their recent inquiry into the depletion of hardwood in some parts of the country’s forest reserves.

In total, the report also cites 35 names of companies and individuals who are also not paying their licence dues to government worth K643 042 226.80 (about $1.42m) for Viphya Plantations only.

“We are worried that some committee members, especially I and my deputy, are living in fear as these illegal round wood exporters say they have organised hit squads to take away our lives,” claimed Welani.

He said he has since reported the matter to Speaker of National Assembly Richard Msowoya and sought protection.

In an interview with Weekend Nation, Msowoya confirmed receiving a verbal complaint from Welani and said the matter is being looked into.

In a separate interview, vice-chairperson for the committee Alex Major confirmed the threats, and said they delivered their report to Parliament.

“We are indeed living in fear following the threats we have been receiving through anonymous telephone calls, but the matter is currently in the hands of Parliament secretariat,” said Major.

He challenged that the committee will not stop fighting for the preservation of the country’s natural resources.

“At the rate Malawi is losing her forests, the country’s economic and climate challenges will remain the same if nothing will be done,” he said.

Clerk of Parliament Roosevelt Gondwe on Friday confirmed receiving a written report from the committee.

“We have received the report and we are sending it to the Inspector General of Police for further inquiry since Parliament is not an investigative body,” said Gondwe.

The threats come after the committee recently conducted an investigation into a suspected thriving illegal timber trade, and promised to name and shame companies or individuals involved in smuggling the indigenous hardwood which remains a protected item under the country’s laws.

In 2008, government banned exports of all forms of wood to address the status of indigenous hardwood in the country which showed that there was no forest that could sustain supply of hardwood timber for domestic use and exports.

But six years after the ban was imposed, exportation of the hardwood continued.

The parliamentary committee’s recent report on natural resources and climate change indicates that a combination of hardwood from Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia is being illegally exported to China through Mozambican ports.

The report also claims that between November 2014 and January 2015, about 15-20 trucks carrying the protected wood have illegally passed though Malawi’s borders.

The report also claims that some clearing and logistics companies, senior politicians and Chinese nationals are involved in the illegal trade.

Reacting to the development, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) Timothy Mtambo has urged government to tighten security for the concerned MPs and investigate the threats.

“CHRR would like to commend the MPs for their work and at the same time condemn those issuing threats. Police must also track them [the suspects] and make sure that they are punished.

“As citizens, let us emulate from this best practice by the MPs; let us learn to stand against evil and expose it. We [call on all citizens to] play a role in building our country,” said Mtambo.

Police said they had not yet received the report as we went to press yesterday.