|
The Parks and Wild Life office at Kanjedza in Blantyre said on Friday they had received orders from Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Martha Nasho to release her impounded truck and charcoal and had no choice but to carry out the orders.
Parks and Wildlife Officer Tull Makanjira said in an interview at the Regional Parks and Wild Life office his department impounded the truck with100 bags of charcoal at Kaphuka Turn Off after following it from Matindi following a tip.
Some charcoal traders whose trucks were also impounded on Wednesday night together with Nasho’s said in an interview they were fined up to K20,000 for the crime and that their charcoal was sold by the Parks and Wildlife office.
When Nation Online visited the Parks and Wildlife office, the vehicle, a white Toyota 7-tonne truck, registration number BL BL 3690 was being reloaded with the charcoal after the office received orders from Nasho to release the truck and charcoal.
Wildlife officers including Parks and Wildlife Officer Tull Makanjira looked on helplessly as the truck was being reloaded.
“We think this is very bad especially that Mrs. Nasho is the deputy minister in charge of caring for the environment,” said one disappointed charcoal trader who did not want to be named.
“The charcoal was properly wrapped in a canvas and one could not tell that it was indeed charcoal until we stopped the vehicle and checked,” said Makanjira.
He said his office was, however, surprised to get a telephone call from a Mr. Mankhambera of Forestry Department who told them that the deputy minister wanted her charcoal and vehicle released.
“We don’t have a choice but to do what we have been told. But we are very disappointed because here is a law maker breaking her own law. Nobody should be given preferential treatment in such matters,” said Makanjira.
Asked to comment on the matter, an irate-sounding Nasho dismissed everything that was being said on the issue as “rubbish”.
“I don’t run charcoal business. I am a contractor and what you are saying is rubbish. I am a great disciplinarian and that’s why His Excellency the President gave me this ministry,” said Nasho.
She said she is a single mother with a lot of children and that it is not fair to victimise her.
|
