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| National |
| Zambians depleting Malawi’s natural resources |
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by
Joseph Langa, 15 July 2003
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08:42:25
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Deputy Tourism, Parks and Wildlife Minister Fidson Chisesele and Parks and Wildlife director Leonard Sefu have said Zambian nationals are contributing to the depletion of natural resources in Kasungu National Park through poaching and encroachment.
The two were speaking over the weekend during a stakeholders meeting on Kasungu/Lukusuzi transfrontier conservation areas (TFCA), a proposed joint management of natural resources in Kasungu and Lukusuzi national parks.
Chisesele said Kasungu wildlife has declined tremendously because of poaching from Malawi and Zambian nationals mainly those in the border areas.
“Today as you discuss these collaborative mechanisms I want to point out that the variety of wildlife in this park has dangerously deteriorated. The decline of wildlife in Kasungu National Park deprives Malawi of economic growth opportunities and reduces employment, trade and investment opportunities,” said Chisesele.
Apart from poaching which is the major problem, Chisesele said the northern and western sections of the park have also been encroached by both Zambians and Malawians who are currently advancing inside the park.
“My hope is that the creation of TFCA will probably speed up the removal of encroachers. I encourage you to find practical mechanisms to remove these illegal settlers. The park cannot ever hope to populate itself with poachers and encroachers operating at will inside it,” said Chisesele.
Sefu said the TFCA will help to reduce the depletion of natural resources in the park because communities in both countries will appreciate the need to conserve natural resources even if they are not located within their country boundaries.
“Most of the time people in the border areas deplete natural resources from the other side of the country because they have a feeling that they don’t belong to them,” he said.
Sefu said the proposed agreement is aimed to achieve collaboration in the conservation of trans-boundary ecosystems and management of the wildlife resources in order to promote sustainable eco-tourism and quality of life for the people in the two countries.
Member of Parliament for the area Sillas Gulule and Sub TA Linyangwa said poaching has scared targeted animals, particularly elephants, which, they said, have now trekked to the villages where they are killing people and destroying farm produce.
Gulule said elephant poaching is mainly done by Zambians who have vandalised the electric fence surrounding the park. |
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