Some of the arrested encroachers

Barely days after Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Member of Parliament Joyce Chitsulo warned the community the danger of cutting down trees carelessly, Kanjedza police from Blantyre on Thursday arrested Efodi Mauleti who is the Health Chairperson of Thambani Health Center and others for cutting down trees and encroaching Thambani Forest Reserve.

Reports indicate that community leaders led by Senior Traditional Authority and others decided to engage the Blantyre based police after Mwanza police failed to apprehend the culprits.

Speaking with in interview with Malawi Voice on Sunday, June 18,2023, Senior Chief Govati said it is shameful that leaders who are supposed to be advocates to fight against deforestation and wanton of cutting down trees are at the fore front of what he called a “heinous crime against environment and people”.

The Chief said it is worrisome to see people cutting down trees in this well known forest reserve.

“This was a big forest reserve but now it on a blink of becoming a bare land as result of wanton cutting down of trees for timber and charcoal.

“We pray that those apprehended are giving a custodial sentence by the courts as well as the forfeiture of their equipment and that will send a good signal to the society that depleting forest is a serious offence manly nowadays when the world is fighting against climate change,” said Govati in interview.

On Sunday last week, when Chitsulo was celebrating her birth day warned the community of ‘looting’ Thambani Forest because doing so would cause soil erosion, flooding, climate change effects among others.

But in a twist of events, a leader who was supposed to lead by example on matters that affect the community, Mr Mauleti has been caught by the law enforcement agents after leading over 15 people to cutting down trees in the forest reserve.

Mr Mauleti is the brother to human rights defender Redson Mnulo.

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