Rumphi District Council decries deforestation

Rumphi District Council chairperson Harry Mnyenyembe has bemoaned deforestation due to charcoal making, timber production and tobacco drying in the district.

He said this on Friday during a tree-planting exercise organised by Biodiversity Conservation Initiative in Chinyolo in Senior Chief Mwankhunikira in the district.

“Loss of forestry cover has led to flooding in areas such as Chinyolo, Mzokoto and Phwezi. The floods wash away crops and displace people, who look to government for relief,” said Mnyenyembe.

But Senior Chief Mwankhunikira’s representative Arrow Nyirenda blamed the Rumphi District Forestry Department for issuing permits to people engaged in timber milling.

He said: “The officials fail to monitor that such people cut down trees as agreed.

“Actually, some people use the same permit several times because forestry people do not follow them up. We end up losing a lot of trees to these fraudulent acts.”

However, Nyirenda said they have formulated by-laws to protect forests.

On his part, Biodiversity Conservation Initiative executive director Godwin Mkamanga said trees reduce soil erosion.

“So, to prevent floods, people should plant trees and protect forests,” he said.

President Lazarus Chakwera launched the 2020/21 Forestry Season at Tukombo Primary School in Nkhata Bay on December 16 2020.