By Tikondane Vega

Blantyre, April 12, Mana: Minister of Tourism Vera Kantukule says there is need for a strong coordination between stakeholders at all levels if the country is to resuscitate Michiru forest reserve which has almost been depleted.

Kantukule said this in Blantyre on Friday after discussing with stakeholders on how to address Michiru Nature Sanctuary and Michiru forest reserves problems.

The minister said stakeholders have agreed that to protect the forest, all concerned stakeholders need to play their part continuously as the lasting solution to deal with the challenge.

“We have been engaging Malawi Defence Force to guard the forest and when they go back after the expiring of their time, people go back and start cutting down trees while others continue to burn charcoal. It means this way alone is not sustainable because they cannot be there every time.

During our meeting, Judiciary has assured us that they will continue handing custodial sentences to all perpetrators and on the other part, police will arrest and bring to court the suspects connected to Michiri destruction,” she said.

Kantukule said other stakeholders like civil society organizations will continue to carry out sensitization meetings for people surrounding the forest though many are of the view that people who destroy the forest are not the surrounding community but from other areas.

She added,” when I go to Lilongwe, I  will hold a meeting with Minister of Defence and Homeland security on how we can consistently protect the forest bearing in mind that the duty to protect the forest   does not lie  in the Ministry of Natural Resources or tourism only.

“The meeting today has brought all relevant stakeholders and this only shows the seriousness that government has towards Michiru forest. Going forward we shall also continue capacitating all stakeholders for them to discharge their duties well.

On his part, Maliko Chikaonga who is Founder of Dzuka Chilomoni and a member of Friends of Michiru said the meeting has been an eye opener as all stakeholders have agreed to work as one as they continue to protect Michiru forest.

Chikaonga said more things need to happen as ways to protect the forest suggesting to economically empower the surrounding communities with income generating activities like bee keeping so that they should not think of destroying the forest as part of their survival.

Statistics show that in 2023, the forest registered 60 cases and there has been 100 percent conviction rate, but the sentences have been small, a thing judiciary has already started addressing by giving custodial sentences with no fine as option.