Despite charcoal selling being illegal in Malawi, the trade is still applied in the country with forests being under threat of being degraded.
Though government through the police and forestry officials confiscates charcoal to curb charcoal trade, the forbidden commodity is still on the market at a time the country is facing electricity challenges.
Director of Forestry Department Clement Chilima is reported to have said that forest guards confiscate charcoal at roadblocks “out of desperation to kill the market or reduce demand”.
But Blantyre District Forest Officer Geoffrey Kanyerere disclosed that most of the charcoal that is being used in the commercial city comes from Neno district, some kilometers away from the city.
Kanyerere told Malawi24 that most of the forests in the city have now been depleted hence the importation from Neno.
However, the road from Neno to Blantyre has several roadblocks that could have easily “killed the market” of charcoal in Blantyre as disclosed by Chilima with officers confiscating the illegal commodity.
Environmental stakeholders however feels confiscating charcoal “counts for nothing” in fight against charcoal trade in the country.
Kanyerere disclosed that the fight in charcoal trade could be lost if stiff actions are not employed to curb the sale of charcoal.
“We really wish if we had Malawi Defence Force officers to help in this fight. We once used them and we noted a big change but the cost is just too much for such operation to be sustained,” said Kanyerere.
As it stands the authorities need to rethink and improvise actions that are to win the battle against charcoal trade in Malawi.
We must stop this… otherwise our future generation wont enjoy the living…let us plant trees!!
Nde chani
Its for the government to introdece the uses of gas. Malawi kusalila. Shame
Magetsi ndi otchipa kuyerekeza ndi kuphikila khuni, kuunikila candle . Komano magetsiwo kuzimazima ndiye anthu akuphikila makala kapena nkhuni, ndiye a boma asaletse anthu kuphikila makala. Iwowo a bomawo adzale mitengo yo chuluka kuti mkhalango zizatheretu.
So without charcoal still the government doesn’t provide a good altenative so as to supply us consumerble means of replacing the current charcoal we grew up with !
Electricity is much more expensive not all or 3/4 of Malawians can afford ..and with this power shortages the government must consider that b4 our beloved country turns into a desert !
Ndima blackout ake amenewa nde mitengo ithadi pa Malawi pano… Escom nde ikuyenera kubzala mitenga pa Malawi pano. Koz its their fault mitengo ikutha m’dziko lino…Makalawo ndi omwe ali source of energy since u dnt supply enough power 2 Malawianz
In the Tree planting session
PLEASE PLANT MAINLY MORINGA TREES. Mitengo iyi sapanga nkhuni olo Makala
chosecho ngat wamwa tea wagwilitsa tchito nkhuni kapena makala kt madzi a tea awire apa ndie ukukomenta kt mitengo yosatheka kupanga nkhuni kapena makala isamazalidwe sopano kukakhala kopanda nkhuni kapena makala anthu aziphika bwanji??? Popeza dziko lamalawi ndilopanda magetsi?? Or magetsi atayamba kuenda bwino ndie anthu akumudzi omwe ali madera oti magetsi sanafikemo azipanganoso bwa?? Think before u comment.