Govt not aware of MDF brutality

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Despite the local media being stormed with reports of Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldier’s brutality at Chikangawa Forest, government has disclosed that it is not aware of such cases happening.

The sentiments follow reports of men in uniform abusing civilians at Chikangawa forest while exercising their duties of protecting trees.

Sangwani Phiri
Sangwani Phiri: Soldiers worked as mandated.

Among such cases of abuse include the recent report by local press that claimed that a woman was forced to have sex with an unknown man when she was found in the forest.

Speaking in an interview with Malawi24, public relations officer responsible for environment and climate change in the ministry of natural resources energy and mining Sangwani Phiri said government is not aware of such abuse and he applauded the soldiers for working as mandated.

“We have not received official complaints as the ministry we just get it from other quarters that there is an abuse of human rights of people found at Viphya plantation and on such issues we don’t have to speculate because we don’t have a substantial evidence,” said Phiri.

He added that government will take action on the reports upon having evidence of abuse by the soldiers at Chikangawa.

Malawi government deployed MDF soldiers to patrol Chikangawa forest following a sharp depletion of trees due to logging.

However the public was later to be informed of human rights abuse to people and communities around the forest.