Communities around Nyika National Park and Vwaza Wildlife Reserve in Rumphi District can now afford a smile following government’s approval for the people to use pine trees cleared from Nyika Plateau for timber.

In an interview, Department of National Parks and Wildlife division manager (North) Peter Wadi said government decided to clear self-grown pine trees known as invasive alien species from the mountain because they were affecting tourism.

Timber being ferried to schools from Nyika National Park

He said the alien species inhibit the growth of other trees which provide food to most wild animals that attract tourists in the country’s largest national park.

“So, we advertised for firms to cut down the trees and make timber to be used for desks for 70 schools around Nyika National Park and Vwaza Wildlife Reserve as requested by communities,” said Wadi.

Nyika-Vwaza Association president Sugar Mkandawire commended government for accepting their request to turn the trees into timber.

He said: “There was shortage of desks in most public schools around Nyika National Park and Vwaza Wildlife Reserve.

“I thank Takula Building Contractors and General Dealers for fulfilling the contractual agreement to provide us with planks to be used for desks.”

Takula Building Contractors and General Dealers director Esther Kathumba said despite the poor terrain from Mzuzu to Nyika National Park, they gathered courage to accomplish their task.

“The 192-kilometre terrain from Mzuzu to Nyika National Park is very challenging, but I had to rise above gender barriers to do the job to the satisfaction of my client, the Malawi Government through Nyika-Vwaza Association,” she said.

Kathumba also said theywill donate some timber to Thazima Health Centre in the area being constructed using Constituency Development Fund.

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