Communities Urged to Collaborate with Wildlife Officials in Lengwe National Park Conservation
CHIKWAWA, Malawi — Communities surrounding Lengwe National Park in Chikwawa district have been called upon to join forces with Wildlife Officials in a collective effort to conserve the environment, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
This appeal was made by Wesley Kawaye, Division Manager for Lower Shire Division, during the election of the Committee for Lengwe National Park held at Nchalo on Thursday.
Kawaye emphasized the importance of fostering a positive relationship between local communities and wildlife officials to ensure effective environmental protection.
He stated his vision for the park's future, saying: "It is my wish that Lengwe National Park continues to serve its intended purpose of attracting tourists."
Senior Chief Chapananga echoed these sentiments, identifying environmental destruction within the protected area as a primary concern.
He stressed the need for cooperation with officials and highlighted the importance of civic education on conservation for community members.
"Malpractices such as charcoal burning and wanton cutting down of trees have been fueling the destruction of the environment," Senior Chief Chapananga explained.
The traditional leader also commended the Department of Wildlife for introducing the goat pass-on initiative, which he said has significantly improved local livelihoods.
New Leadership and Community Engagement
Sofoliyano Gweta, the newly elected chairperson of the Lengwe National Park Committee, outlined his role as a mediator between the local population and Wildlife Officials.
He emphasized the importance of close collaboration and addressed some community concerns:
"Sometimes the locals need to harvest wild fruits such as masawu from the protected area. This should be allowed," Gweta stated.
Gweta also highlighted the positive impact of four maize mills established in the area, which serve as income sources for the four Traditional Authorities.
These resources have enabled communities to pay school fees for underprivileged children, construct clinics, and fund other local development projects.
"The resources are distributed equally to the Traditional Authorities Ndakwera, Ngabu, Chapananga, and Lundu," the chairperson explained.