Lilongwe, October 14, 2015:
The Department of forestry has warned illegal producers of charcoal to stop the malpractice or risk prosecution.
The remarks were made on Friday in Lilongwe at a panel discussion titled 'helping vulnerable communities adapt to a changing climate' and attracted panelists from Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), the judiciary, police, Traditional leaders, and a representative of charcoal producers, among others.
Deputy Director of Forestry Nyuma Mughogho said Government had awarded a licence for charcoal production to Kawandama Hills in Chikangawa effectively meaning all charcoal production without a licence was illegal.
Mughogho warned all charcoal producers in the country to heed the call saying continued production of charcoal was the main cause of deforestation and its resulting consequences.
Concurring with Mughogho, Senior Resident Magistrate Anthony Kapasule who represented the judiciary, said section 81 of the Forestry Act stops illegal production of charcoal with fines ranging from K2000 and above depending on the gravity of the offence.
And responding to concerns that the fines are not deterrent enough, Kapasule said it is clear that the forestry laws were enacted so many years ago and therefore not deterrent enough as was meant then.
“It is true that the law in the act is archaic and needs reviewing; the K2000 of 1994 cannot be the K2000 of today. I think parliament needs to review these laws periodically, and also may be we must find a way of making the fines adjust automatically in response to the movement of the Kwacha,” he said.
But speaking on behalf of charcoal producers, Layitoni Sailes who travelled all the way from Mwanza district, said government should find alternative means of income generation for the poor masses whose only source of income was through charcoal burning and selling.
Sailesi argued that the illegal charcoal production would continue if government does address factors such as poverty which he said was fueling the malpractice.
He said: “Let me say that, as I am speaking production of charcoal where I am coming from is in process and this will continue until government gives us something to do; they must give us loans and even find an alternative for fuel wood since we have a good market out there which means what we do helps many people.”
He said that government needs to find ways of bringing other companies to provide energy saying the Electricity Supply Corporation [Escom] was not providing quality services due to lack of competition.
Commenting on assertion for alternative sources of fuel wood, Wilfred Kasakula from MERA and Luke Malembo from Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy said there were more alternatives for fuel wood and charcoal burning such as the use of Briquettes and gas stoves among others.
They however said this needed extensive industrial production and publicity for the project to succeed urging business people to set up companies which can go into serious production of brocades which can replace charcoal.
The panel discussion was organized and funded by the Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy in conjunction with the Christian Aid.
Malawi News Agency (MANA) Online:
For reference visit: http://www.manaonline.gov.mw/index.php/national/environment/item/3887-forest