Kudzigulira malo’s cost: Nambande in peril – Capital Radio Malawi
13 February, 2025

Kudzigulira malo’s cost: Nambande in peril

Mountain's forests are slowly disappearing

By Alick Majidi and Noel Mkwaila

“CAPITAL INSIGHT -NAMBANDE MOUNTAIN DEFORESTATION”.

For the residents of Mkwanda II Village in Mangochi, Nambande Mountain once stood as a symbol of abundant natural resources and environmental harmony.

But today, the mountain’s lush forests are quickly disappearing, victims of widespread deforestation.

Local villagers are pointing fingers at the “Kudzigulira Malo” project—an ambitious initiative introduced by the late President Bingu wa Mutharika.

The project, initially designed to alleviate overpopulation and land pressure through resettlement, has unintentionally fuelled environmental destruction, leaving a trail of ecological devastation.

A history of environmental struggles

Nambande Mountain has long been a crucial resource for the local population. Stretching across the rolling hills and forests of Mangochi, it once provided villagers with timber, firewood, medicinal plants, and fertile land for farming.

The mountain’s ecosystem also played an important role in regulating the climate, fostering a diverse range of flora and fauna, and ensuring reliable rainfall patterns essential for agriculture.

For generations, the communities surrounding Nambande lived in relative harmony with their environment, making sustainable use of its resources.

However, in the early 2000s, the Malawian government introduced the “Kudzigulira Malo” project, a large-scale resettlement initiative aimed at addressing the country’s increasing population pressures and land scarcity.

The project’s objective was to relocate people from densely populated areas to more sparsely populated regions, such as Nambande Mountain, where there was unused land but little infrastructure.

President Bingu wa Mutharika, in his vision for rural development, hoped to ease overcrowding and provide agricultural opportunities for families seeking land.

While the project was initially lauded as a solution to the country’s land issues, it carelessly placed immense pressure on the environment.

The resettlement program led to an influx of people into areas that were once rich in natural resources, and the mountain’s once-protected forests began to suffer from overexploitation.

The Impact of the “Kudzigulira Malo” Project

This rapid influx of settlers, although providing an immediate solution to land hunger, created unintended consequences that have long-lasting environmental and social impacts.

As local populations grew, the demand for fuelwood, building materials, and charcoal skyrocketed. For many of the settlers, the mountain’s resources became a vital lifeline for their survival. However, the dependence on unsustainable resource extraction practices quickly led to severe deforestation.

Agness Davide, a 35-year-old resident of Mkwanda II, recalls how the forest once flourished. “In the past 15 years, the mountain was full of trees, and we didn’t use them for firewood, charcoal, or brick ovens. But when these people [Odzigulira Malo settlers] came in, they started cutting down trees for charcoal and firewood,” she lamented. For these settlers, the economic reality of survival often collided with environmental conservation, and the demand for firewood and charcoal to sell in local markets led to indiscriminate tree-cutting.

The expansion of settlements also brought agricultural land clearing to the slopes of Nambande, further exacerbating the environmental pressures. Traditional farming methods, often reliant on slash-and-burn practices, not only contributed to soil degradation but also accelerated the loss of vegetation, leading to increased erosion and reduced soil fertility.

The deepening crisis of poverty and hunger

As the deforestation crisis worsened, it became clear that poverty played a central role in driving environmental degradation.

For many of the settlers, the forest was not just a source of firewood—it was a source of livelihood.

Selling charcoal or firewood was one of the few income-generating activities available in the region, particularly as agricultural productivity began to decline.

Capital FM

Laston Wonderford, a 56-year-old local, explains the economic pressure faced by villagers:

“People here are cutting down trees for charcoal, but when we ask them to stop, they say, ‘Where will we get money if we stop selling charcoal?’ We need the government to support us with trees, especially this rainy season. We also need food because hunger and poverty are driving this destruction.”

This feedback highlights the deep-rooted issues facing the community: without viable economic alternatives and support for sustainable livelihoods, halting the cycle of deforestation is a difficult challenge.

As the weather patterns became more erratic, with droughts and irregular rainfall replacing the once-predictable seasons, many villagers noticed the profound impact that the disappearance of trees was having on the land.

Nickson Ibrahim, 45, a lifelong resident of Mkwanda II, reflected on the once-bountiful landscape. “I was born and raised here, the mountain was full of resources. But now, it’s almost gone. Rain used to come in early November, but now we face droughts,” he said. The region’s vulnerability to climate change was further exacerbated by deforestation, which reduced the mountain’s ability to retain moisture and regulate the local microclimate.

Calls for Immediate Action

The environmental and social toll of the “Kudzigulira Malo” project is now clear, and local leaders are urgently calling for intervention. Group Village Head (GVH) Nkwanda II has been at the forefront of these efforts, emphasizing that immediate action is required to prevent the destruction of the mountain. “The Forestry Department must step in and help us protect this mountain. If nothing is done, we will lose this precious resource forever,” she warned.

She also raised concerns over the government’s role in addressing the issue. “The project [Kudzigulira Malo] has negatively impacted the area. The government should not have allowed settlers to live here, as the mountain should have been secured to avoid deforestation,” she said.

The GVH highlighted that local conservation committees that had been set up to manage the mountain were often ineffective due to a lack of resources and support.

“We had a local subcommittee to protect the mountain, but it was ineffective due to a lack of support. In other areas, villagers receive financial aid from NGOs and the government to protect forests. How can people work to conserve resources if they have nothing to eat?” she questioned.

A Crossroads for Sustainable Development

The ongoing deforestation at Nambande Mountain has direct implications for broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Deforestation not only contributes to climate change by releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere but also undermines biodiversity and food security.

The challenge of balancing human development with environmental conservation remains a pressing issue in Malawi, where rural populations are increasingly turning to unsustainable practices to survive.

For at least two months, we have been trying to engage relevant authorities for their comments on the situation at hand, but our efforts have not materialized.

We engaged the Ministry of natural resources at Capital Hill but it referred us to the Mangochi district forest office for responses to our questions.

We contacted district forestry officer, Amon Kabango who first said we should send him a questionnaire for his attention.

When we followed up on the matter on 20 January this year, Kabango then changed tune.

“It’s not just me as the boss.  There are others on top of me and I can’t push them to make decisions,” he said.

“There will be a meeting likely Wednesday with concerned stakeholders headed by senior chief Chowe, who is the Chairperson for the Liaison Committee on Mangochi Forest Reserve.

“So a proper decision will be made who has to speak on these issues to the media. So your patience is paramount. No one can just jump on this issue!

“The area concerned for your information is leased to African Parks Limited under a concession agreement with the Malawi Government. Management in short, is not under us. That’s why it’s not that straightforward,”

An environmentalist, Maloto Chimkombero on the other hand, suggests that community members that surround the mountain should collaborate with relevant stakeholders to find sustainable economic activities in their area.

“What people are doing there is not something that should be upheld. It is something that everyone should take a role in ensuring that it ends.

“We need more environmental conservations and restoration approaches at Nambande Mountain,” he said.

Looking Ahead: The Road to Restoration

Nambande Mountain, located just 15 kilometers west of Mangochi Boma, is a vital ecological resource that must be protected at all costs.

If deforestation continues unchecked, the mountain could lose its forests entirely, along with the ecosystem services it provides.

However, with concerted efforts from the Forestry Department, local leaders, and the broader community, there is still hope for restoring the mountain’s forests and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for future generations.

The history of Nambande Mountain reveals a delicate balance between human development and environmental preservation, and the “Kudzigulira Malo” project serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of managing natural resources in a rapidly changing world.

Moving forward, the challenge will be to find ways to mitigate the environmental damage while providing the community with sustainable alternatives to the destructive practices that have taken root.

With increased support for sustainable livelihoods, stronger conservation policies, and greater community engagement, Nambande Mountain’s future can still be secured—ensuring that its resources continue to support the people of Mangochi without sacrificing the health of the land.

The clock is ticking, but there is still time to act before the mountain’s precious forests are lost forever.

About The Author

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *