Japan gives Malawi vehicles worth K952m

The Government of Japan has given Malawi a fleet of vehicles, motorcycles and plant machinery valued at $2.8 million (around K952 million) meant to support preservation of forest reserves based on the developed forest map.

Ambassador Fujio Samukawa handed over the fleet to the Department of Forestry at Bingu International Conference Centre in Lilongwe on Thursday.

“The Department of Forestry is provided with a fleet of trucks, graders, water tankers, forklifts, lorries and motorcycles among others at 276 million Japanese yen [equivalent of $2.8 million at present value],” said Samukawa.

The aid is part of $17.3 million awarded to Malawi in 2010 under a Forestry Preservation Programme that Japan is running in nine African countries with Malawi getting the lion’s share.

“It is our hope that once the rural areas have access to electricity, deforestation in the country will reduce,” he added.

President Joyce Banda, who received the aid, said her government is committed to promoting clean environment mechanisms.

“Forests contribute to economic development and close to 96 percent of Malawians depend on forests for income and energy,” she said.