Huge Energy Demand in the Capital City Fueling Dzalanyama Deforestation- Muluzi
Government lay blame on huge energy demand in the capital city Lilongwe as the major cause of the tree loss at Dzalanyama forest reserve.
Minister of Energy and Environment Honorable Atupele Muluzi was responding to a question put to him by Lilongwe Msodzi South Parliamentarian hon Vitus Dzoole Mwale immediately after finishing his Ministerial Statement on the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme and Power Shortages affecting the country.
Dzoole Mwale in his question expressed dissatisfaction that hon Muluzi in his Statement failed to explicitly outline strategies put in place in ending massive deforestation being perpetrated by charcoal and wood fuel businesses. The parliamentarian said Malawi is being deforesteted by greedy people who are going into protected areas and forests especially Dzalanyama, and other forests of Chikangawa and Zomba Mountain a development which he said is resulting into among others the recent floods.
“Charcoal burning is a very serious issue in our country” Said Dzoole, “go to Dzalanyama forest reserve, is now bare, similarly to other protected areas. My worry is, if we are not careful Malawi as a country will be deserted.”
But in his response Atupele Muluzi accepted that Malawi continues to experience energy crisis because statistics indicates only 9% of urban population has access to power with only 2% in rural areas have access to electricity.
Specifically answering on Dzalanyama forest reserve problem, Muluzi said “We have huge energy demand in the city of Lilongwe. That is what is fueling the massive deforestation at Dzalanyama.”
“This energy demand is more towards biomass which is wood fuel and charcoal production.” He said
Muluzi said his ministry is implementing number of interventions ensuring that it addresses the huge fuel demand for Lilongwe City and communities around Dzalanyama having realized that this problem require a holistic approach.
“We have carried out enforcements, there is Malawi Police Service, Malawi defense force and Forestry Department. But honorable member should appreciate that enforcement sometimes has its limitations. So long as you have huge demand for charcoal and wood it is very difficult to enforce over a long period of time. What the enforcements should do is to address the short term requirement, which is to contain the situation while implementing long term measures.”
“So long as you have the charcoal sellers who are dependent upon the selling of charcoal for their livelihood for jobs, we take that away, we are creating another problem. So what we are doing as a ministry is encouraging them to be licensed.” He said while adding that by having charcoal sellers properly certified will enable them do their job in a sustainable manner.
“Enforcement alone cannot work!” said Muluzi
He also mentioned that government is considering other solutions like encouraging private sectors to grow trees in some specific areas for providing wood fuel in sustainable manner. He said government has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Global Environment Fund within this intervention.
Muluzi who emphasized that enforcement will continue said government will carry on with finding other alternatives on energy demands in Lilongwe particularly rolling out “extensively” Clean Cook Stoves Projects in areas around Dzalanyama and adopt other options like introducing wild animals or turning the place into national park.
He further informed the house that very soon a first time regional conference will convene in Lilongwe where Dzalanyama crisis will be discussed “extensively”
