Govt to recruit more game rangers

Malawi Government through the department of parks and wildlife has outlined measures put in place to complement the newly passed Parks and Wildlife Act.

Among other things, the department says it will be recruiting game rangers and will conduct massive nationwide sensitization campaign on the new law.

Malawi is amongst countries in Africa and in the world registering high number of wildlife crimes with rhinos and elephants being the targeted due to high demand of ivory and horns in the eastern countries.

According to director of parks and wildlife department Brighton Kumchedwa, it is very exciting that this time the country has a law restraining poachers from killing wildlife.

“As a wildlife department we are very much excited that this time we have a stiffer law which we have been looking for. Now we are geared towards implementations and we want to start with sensitization campaign. We want to tell the communities what the law is all about.

“Early next year we will be starting extensive awareness programmes with the media to sensitize them so that they can also help us in informing the general public. In addition to the implementations, the same period next year we will be recruiting 100 game rangers,” said Kumchedwa.

Kumchedwa further said they will also sensitize the law enforcers and the judiciary on how they can handle cases of wildlife killings.

This year alone, over ten people have been arrested for poaching in parks with Liwonde National Park registering many cases of poaching.