11 hectares burn on Zomba mountain

The fire brigade are still struggling to put out the raging fire on Zomba mountain that has destroyed over 11 hectares of forest.

The fire started two days ago apparently lit by some disgruntled loggers after forestry and police officers raided the mountain to stop the plunder.

The inferno has gutted part of historical sites, the Emperors and Queens View that attract local and international tourists.

Acting plantation manager Emmanuel Nkhoma says the blaze has spread to a remote ridge on the mountain which is inaccessible by water bowsers.

“We are trying our best to contain the fire however our efforts are proving futile because the loggers set the fire somewhere near a ridge which is hard to reach even for our water bowsers,” Nkhoma explained.

Coordination Union for the Rehabilitation of the Environment (CURE) executive director Charles Mkoka calls for swift action to save the plateau;

“We need the strict arm of the law to take its course on the responsible arsonists. Destruction of forests, in fact a protected area like the plateau which is a tourist attraction site, should be punishable without leniency,” Mkoka demanded.

Tourism minister Vera Kamtukule expresses shock with the incident as it is happening during the Tourism Month.

She said: “I am in shock and disbelief that some irresponsible people can just decide to burn a forest near one of our hottest tourist destination sites in Zomba.”

“We will work with our counterparts from the natural resources ministry and the police to co9ntain the issue,” Kamtukule said.

The Zomba Plateau, also called the Zomba Massif, is a mountain of the Shire Highlands in southern Malawi. Its total area is about 130 square kilometres.