Government commits to protect Machinga residents
Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture Kondwani Nankhumwa has said government will protect people around Liwonde National Park in Machinga.
Nankhumwa said this at Nluwira Village in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Liwonde in the district where he consoled families who lost their loved ones after they were attacked by two stray elephants.
The elephants, which were believed to be returning to Liwonde National Park from Mozambique after getting out of the park through its porous fence, pounced on and killed the seven people between 5 and 8 am on September 27 this year.
Nankhumwa said government is working to erect the fence to protect residents surrounding the park from fierce game.
He said: “Government through the Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture is taking a holistic view at the plight of the communities with a view to assisting them.”
Director of Parks and Wildlife Brighton Kumchedwa assured the people that his department will ensure that an ultramodern security fence is erected at the park in order to police and arrest all the problems that have dogged communities for a long time and to avoid a repeat of what has happened.
T/A Liwonde thanked government for the gesture to console the bereaved families.
The seven people killed were identified as Cedrick Matemba, 85, Ladye Salade, 62, Alesi John, 8, James Mkonda,95, Sailunda Taimu,76, Manesi George, 60, and Sawadyira Alisa 65 from T/As Liwonde and Kawinga.
