T/A Somba to enforce environmental bylaws to protect Mpemba

Traditional Authority (TA) Somba of Blantyre is planning to introduce environmental by-laws to deal with massive degradation of forest cover in Mpemba, as most of the area has bare land.

Speaking during a tree planting exercise organised by the Coordination Union for the Rehabilitation of the Environment (CURE) on Friday at Mpemba Health Centre, T/A Somba bemoaned massive deforestation in the area.

The exercise was done under the theme: Forestry Support for the Health Sector, derived from the national theme which is Restore Degraded Forest Landscapes for Livelihood Security.

The traditional leader said those found felling trees in Mpemba area should be punished, because various organisations are working tirelessly to restore and rehabilitate the bare areas.

“In the past years, Mpemba had good vegetative cover, but now all that is gone and most of the land is bare therefore it is time we go back to enforcing by-laws against environment degradation,” he explained.

He indicated that the chiefs’ council will meet soon to decide proper penalties because deforestation has also affected agricultural activities due to soil erosion.

The traditional leader further pointed that such deforestation is also affecting water supply leading to various waterborne diseases such as Cholera.

“Studies show that spending time in green spaces, particularly natural areas such as forests play an important part in child and adolescent development, as well as prevention and treatment of health problems such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, anxiety and depression,” the TA said.

On his part, CURE Board Member Harvey Chimaliro appealed to the communities to take ownership of the trees planted, by taking care of them to ensure survival in order to achieve the purpose of restoring vegetative cover in the area.

“We decided to plant over 1000 trees around Mpemba health centre because patients need fresh and clean air. The area around this facility is massively degraded, such as Mpemba hill which is now bare,” said Chimaliro.

“We advise communities to encourage children and young people to take part in planting trees in order to build a generation that appreciates the importance of green cover and sustainable way of conserving the environment,” he added.

In this forestry season which President Lazarus Chakwera launched in December last year and ends in April, CURE has planned to plant 5000 trees in Blantyre and surrounding areas.

This activity is being done in collaboration with various organisations such as the Malawi Environment Endowment Trust (MEET), Gift of the Givers Foundation, Church Action in Relief and Environment (CARD) Wildlife and Environmental Society (WESM) Sustainable Development Initiative (SDI) Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy (CEPA) Association of Environmental Journalists (AEJ) Caring for Persons with Disabilities (CPDI), Concerned Youth Organisation (CYO) and Blantyre Arts Festival (BAF).