Alarmed by the rate at which Viphya Plantation popularly known as Chikangawa Forest is being depleted, four cabinet ministers on Saturday teamed up with Raiply Malawi in an afforestation drive.
The ministers, Mark Botomani of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technology, Symon Vuwa Kaunda of Lands and Urban Development, Jappie Mhango of Health and population and Ralph Jooma of Transport and Public Works encouraged Malawians to take part in this year’s tree planting season in an effort to mitigate effects of climate change.
In an interview Mhango who led the other ministers said Malawi faces calamities such as droughts and floods largely due to manmade actions such wanton cutting down of trees.
“If we want to make sure that we bring back the forest, we must go back and replant because Viphya plantations which has been one of our treasures in the country,” said Mhango.
President Peter Mutharika launched the 2019/2020 forestry season in December in Mulanje under the theme “trees and forests for transformed landscape and livelihoods”.
At least 62 million trees are expected to be planted this year.
Source : MANA
