By Steve Chirombo

Dedza, April 4, Mana: The Malawi College of Forestry and Wildlife (MCFW) on Wednesday awarded certificates in Wildlife Management Course to 30 students under the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP) with a call to the graduates to continue with wildlife conservation.

Speaking when he presided over the function, Chauncy Simwaka, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, said wildlife is significant as it plays a big role in the tourism industry hence the need for skilled labour to be able to manage the field.

He said the workforce is also crucial as it informs the communities living close to protected areas on how they can co-exist with wildlife.

“Thus, capacity building and adding skills to our officers is important and we are excited with these 30 students who have undergone this course here at Malawi Forestry and Wildlife,” he said.

He also said that the country’s wildlife reserves have somehow been considered a corridor for smuggling wildlife products but added that with assistance from other stakeholders, they are managing such trends.

He further said the Tourism Ministry has completed diploma course syllabus that incorporates emerging issues, so that it is introduced at the college.

MCFW Principal Dr Monica Gondwe said the graduates were expected to help in the management of wildlife resources towards achieving the Malawi 2063.

She, however, complained of poor road network from the M1 to the institution and that since 1958, when the institution was established, it has never gone under any major maintenance.

“Above all, since that year (1958), we use gravity fed water system and our equipment is outdated hence a call for a bail out,” she said.

On his part, Frank Marko, Senior Parks and Wildlife Assistant in the Depart of National Parks and Wildlife, who also graduated as one of the best students, said the Wildlife Management Course is crucial because it provides opportunities and skills to students to ably execute their duties with confidence and professionalism.

He said unlike in the past, Malawi is currently doing well in wildlife to the extent that other nationals that used to move about with wildlife specimen are afraid since the Wildlife Act was passed in 2017.

“As a country, we have a future in the tourism industry. However, poor road networks are somehow a setback as, during rains, most tourists do not reach their intended destinations,” he said.

Out of the 30, 11 got certificates with a lower credit, 10 with upper credit while two got the certificates with distinctions.