Malawi to spend K300m to replenish wildlife in game reserves, parks

Government has budgeted K300 million towards replenishing wildlife in game reserves and national parks.

Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture Kondwani Nankhumwa disclosed this in Liwonde during the official launch of the tourism month.

According to Senior Chief Liwonde and T/A Chowe, elephants have been terrorising people in the area.

“We are failing to sleep because of the fear of elephants. These animals are proving a nuisance and last year over 300 gardens were destroyed. This year 150 gardens have already been destroyed by the marauding elephants as such, many people will be affected by hunger,” said Liwonde.

Liwonde added that many people in the area are frustrated with goverment’s slow reaction to the matter at hand.

Member of Parliament for the area Shaibu Kaliyati in response to the plea, accused game rangers of conniving with poachers to break the fence and kill wild animals in the park.

Responding to the complaints, Nankhumwa said government takes the issue seriously and will endeavour to resolve the situation as soon as possible.

Said Nankhumwa: “We are currently in the planning stages of restocking animals in the reserves where there are few animals like Nkhotakota Game Reserves We will relocate some of the elephants from Liwonde National Park to Nkhotakota and this exercise will cost K300 million and this amount has been included in the budget.”

Nankhumwa also disclosed that his ministry will organise exchange visits between residents around Liwonde National Park and those at Majete Game Reserve in Chikwawa so that they share notes on how they can co exist peacefully with the wild animals.

The theme for this year’s tourism month is Tourism and Community Development for Poverty Alleviation.