Mulanje Magistrate’s court has sentenced 24 people to four years imprisonment each for sawing timber on Mulanje Mountain and three others to two years imprisonment for obstructing forestry officers from Patrolling the mountain.
The court heard that the 24 were arrested between August 19 and 25 foe allegedly being found camping on the protected area where they cut down trees for making timber.
During the trial, the court on September 3 2021, visited the area where the alleged crime took place to appreciate the extent of the offence based on the damaged caused.
On September 16 2021, Senior resident magistrate Shaheeda Bakali found the 27 guilty and handed them custodial sentences. In separate interview yesterday, Mulanje district forestry officer Erick Mbingwani said he was satisfied with the sentence, saying it will deter other would be offenders.
“We expect a change in terms of people going up to mountain to destroy trees, “he said. On his part, Tradition Authority Njema said he welcomed the judgement, but accused some government officials of being behind the deforestation in the Mulanje Mountain Forest.
“We formulated by-laws to protect the mountain, Anyone found cutting down trees is fined three goats,” he said.
Source: The Nation_Jonathan Pasungwi_Staff Reporter_22 Septermber, 2021