BWB destroys kilns around Mudi Dam
Blantyre City residents moulding and selling bricks at Blantyre Water Board’s (BWB) Mudi Dam catchment area in Ndirande and Machinjiri Townships, had a rude awakening when police demolished their kilns as early as 3 am today.
One of the people whose kiln has been destroyed, Enock Nyamizinga, said over 30 kilns have been destroyed in Ndirande Township alone.
“I invested over K600 000 in the brick business hoping to make a profit of half a million, I am so disturbed because the money I invested in this business needs to be repaid since it was a loan,” Nyamizinga said.
Nyamizinga said after receiving the message about the operation, they pleaded with the Board and the police to consider extending the period to give them ample time to move the bricks but it was denied.
BWB Public Relations Officer Priscilla Mateyu, said the Board gave enough time to the encroachers from June 1 to September 7 this year to vacate the land.
Mateyu said two weeks prior to the deadline the encroachers were also alerted when the Board together with the Police visited the owners of the bricks to personally remind them that there were encroaching on BWB’s land.
“Chiefs and councilors within the area also sent out the same message for the encroachers to vacate the land,” Mateyu said.
According to Mateyu, the Board plans to carry out reforestation in the area with different trees and also let the natural vegetation regenerate. She said this will enable the board recover the capacity of the dam, which will result in high production water levels and improved water supply in Blantyre city and surrounding areas.
“Without practices such as farming or brick moulding, Mudi catchment area will reclaim its lost glory. There will be no siltation due to soil erosion,” she said.
The Board also warned that it was very determined to stop all illegal activities by enforcing order.
It said Mudi Catchment area is a restricted land and farming or any other activities that intends to destroy the natural composition of the area is strictly prohibited.
Thanks!! it now looks like we have a govt in Malawi not like how it has been for the past 20 yrs when Malawi was some sought of a banana republic where every Jim & Jack does whatever they want, wherever & whenever they want it.
We have lost Chikangawa forest, Dzalanyama forest, Mulanje mountain, where every person has been doing whatever they want without any fear that we have a govt and rules that need to be followed. Things that would have never happened during Kamuzu era.
Fellow Malawians what do we need as a people to understand that we are ruining our own country and that of our children. We have lost most of the beautiful dambo lands where we used to cultivate vegetables due to soil erosion which came about becoz of wanton cutting down of trees and the brick business in these areas,
Good luck with that one, mate. Think a key factor is educating Jim and Jack about the effects of what they do and to take responsibility for deforestation. Can’t get charcoal without chopping trees etc etc. Look at the timber markets. Ask the guys where they get their timber from.