By Tiyanjane Tsankhwimbi and Robert Nayeja

Nsanje, January 30, Mana: Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Owen Chomanika called on Nsanje District Council to come up with alternative economic empowerment programmes that should stop communities from over-depending on Matandwe Forest Reserve in the district as a source of livelihood.

The minister made the call on Thursday at Mwanda Village, Traditional Authority Malemia where he hailed community efforts that were meant to protect Matandwe Forest Reserve from depletion.

Chomanika observed the continued careless cutting down of trees in the forest reserve, saying this was the case because communities still relied on the forest for livelihood.

“Let the council prioritise on empowering communities economically so that people should stop relying on the forest for a living,” Chomanika added.

He further observed that careless cutting down of trees in Matandwe Forests leads to land degradation that in turn ignites other environmental-related problems such as flash floods.

“Farming is not productive as it used to be in Nsanje due to careless cutting down of trees leading to land degradation. I am optimistic that once trees are replanted in the forest, food production will improve and on the other hand flash floods in the district will reduce,

“Communities can find money from Thabalaba tubers they get from the forests. We want to promote the production of Thabalaba tubers in their community garden so that we can protect the forest reserve,” said the minister.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Dr Yusufu Nkungula said there was a need to protect Thabalaba which is claimed to cure 38 diseases.

“The ministry is committed to reducing challenges the forestry office is facing in protecting the forest reserves. Currently, we are recruiting forest guards to patrol the forest,” he added.

Chairperson for Nsanje District Council, Hussein Ngwali expressed worry over the continued depletion of Matandwe Forest Reserve following careless cutting down of trees.

He therefore advised communities in Nsanje District to take full responsibility for protecting  Matandwe Forest Reserve and other forest areas against encroachment.

"Let chiefs and everyone here be in the forefront in protecting Matandwe Forest Reserve because it is the treasure of Nsanje and the nation at large," he added.

Matandwe Forest Reserve is one of the protected forests in Nsanje District.

On Wednesday Chomanika took a familiarisation tour of the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMC) head office in Blantyre where he was taken to sever rooms, DCCMC studios and the national Metrological Center (NMC