Mzimba chiefs’ war on charcoal

Champhira Forest in Mzimba District is one of the protected reserves under siege from illegal loggers and charcoal producers.

To reverse the loss of forest cover to charcoal gangs, chiefs in the vast district have renewed community-led efforts to save Champhira and other endangered forests.

On Tuesday, the traditional leaders vowed to clamp down on illegal charcoal business that has left forests up in smoke.

They declared war on charcoal business during a meeting convened by USAid-funded Governance for Solution in collaboration with Modern Cooking for Health Forests Project.

The meeting was attended by Paramount Chief M’mbelwa,  Senior Chief Mtwalo  and Traditional Authority Kampingo-Sibande.

Speaking on behalf of the Ngoni chiefs, Kampingo-Sibande said Mzimba Chiefs’ Council will introduce stern by-laws against illegal production and sales of charcoal fuelling deforestation.

‘‘The district is losing a lot of trees to charcoal. As chiefs, we can’t sit back and watch as our forests keep being plundered by charcoal makers. We have to take a leading role in stopping this senseless act,’’  he said.

According to Forestry Department head of law enforcement Daniel Kabichi, Champhira and Perekezi forest reserves are among the worst- encroached by charcoal gangs.

He explained: ‘‘About 200 people have invaded forests in Mzimba, targeting Champhira and Perekezi forests where they have established their bases solely for charcoal production.

“They are armed with dangerous weapons that make our operations to deal with them difficult, but we are soon deploying armed guards.”

The department has recruited 300 guards to protect all forests nationwide.

‘‘We are training them in phases. So far, we have trained 100 and we remain to train 200. We will soon train another cohort of 100,” said Kabichi.

He said strengthening law enforcement and punishments would help deter illegal charcoal business, including the barons who send their crews to raid forests for charcoal and firewood.

“Those seen or caught cutting the trees in the protected forests are not the owners of the charcoal they are producing,” said Kabichi.

‘‘These gangs are sent by others in towns to produce the charcoal. They have destroyed forests in the Southern and Central regions. Now they have descended on the Northern Region. We must stop them before they destroy these forests.’’

The chiefs will engage their communities to share the importance of conserving trees and protecting forests, said Kampingo-Sibande.

‘‘People should realise that without trees, we will face tragic consequences of climate change and environmental degradation, which we cannot control,’’ he said.

According to the 2018 census, slightly more than three in every four urban households in the country cook using charcoal.

The newly amended Forestry Act prescribes tough punishments of up to 20 years imprisonment or K10 million fines for illegal charcoal producers and traffickers, but forests remain under siege.

Forestry officials in Mzimba blame the persistent trend on lenient sentences the courts impose on convicted offenders.

But Mzimba magistrate Ngwachi Kalua said: “This isn’t entirely true.

“Actually, most prosecutors lack the capacity to prosecute suspects arrested for charcoal-related offences. Most cases lack convincing evidence.”