On Madonna

(this article appeared in the Sunday Times)

This adoption is not right

By HASTINGS MALOYA

Today, the one-year-old little known David Banda from Mchinji is spending his fifth day in his new home near London's Marble Arch in the United Kingdom at a start of his 18 months’ temporary custody by his new parents. And when all the legal requirements are made, this home shall never be temporal and from then, his mother will be no other than the internationally acclaimed pop star, Madonna.

Yes, David has been adopted by the queen of pop. It is said by some quarters that the child is out of the poverty circles and chances are high that he might have an enjoyable life. His father Yohane Banda was quote in the international press saying, "I am the father of David, who has been adopted. I am very very happy because as you can see there is poverty in this village and I know he will be very well looked after in America."

One could not be too sure whether David will go to America or will stay in Britain. Maybe the father was not told the exact destination. But the father, just as many commentators, was more exited that his child will be out of poverty. The issue has raised international media interest and locally the entire process through which it has been handled has brought up an interesting debate.

David, to be assisted and supported away from home? Not a good idea really.

When it was first reported in June, 2006 that Madonna will tour Malawi before the end of the year, surely many people were trying to imagine and figure out what type of a concert she would perform and at which venues. Of course it was mentioned that she was coming for charity towards the HIV/Aids pandemic. Fun seekers were meanwhile guessing how much it could cost to witness such a concert. For those that had an idea of her performances were not too sure if Malawi has any sort of arena for the Material Girl, as she is popularly known.

It was left to be seen once she is in the country.

Very few people, if any, were aware of the exact dates for the visiting Madonna. It therefore came as a surprise when she landed. There was no proper schedule nor itinerary released. Since journalists had problems to trace the pop queen, it was difficult to have a clear indications and objectives of the visit. The government also seemed to be in the dark. There was a lot of secrecy.

News had it that she was in Lilongwe before it was reported that she was at Bvumbwe in Thyolo and later she opened up to the press when she was in Mchinji. She was visiting orphanages. And after these visits, speculation that the singer was planning to adopt a child began. Through the BBC, Madonna's publicist Liz Rosenberg initially denied the adoption reports. But it was said that the 48-year-old Madonna had travelled to Malawi with her husband, film-maker Guy Ritchie, to help fight poverty and the problem of HIV and AIDS. A wonderful idea.

But later the rumour about adoption was becoming a reality. First it was a girl from Lilongwe that was in the papers claiming that she would be the one to join Madonna across the oceans. Later things changed and the name of David came in. What followed was a marathon of legal battles and protests. Nevertheless, the pop diva won and managed to get the child out of Malawi. Definitely there was much work done to have the baby’s passport and visa applied, approved and processed.
The biggest worry has been changes and inconsistence of statements especially from government officials.

Several TV news channels showed footages of a woman carrying the child through the Johannesburg airport with officials that acted as bodyguards. The TV pictures showed the baby with a grey-hooded top hiding him from the view of surrounding press. The secrecy remained. It still remains to be explained why such an action.

It is said that David’s mother Marita died a month after his birth from childbirth complications and that since then the child had been cared for at Orphan Care Centre. It could possibly be that he needed special attention being in the tender age. But surely the father is energetic enough and at some point he could be able to look after the boy. It is not very clear whether on Malawian standard such a child would be classified as an orphan.

Much as we could all be happy for little David, Malawians, culturally we are an extended family-type of a people. Most orphans are looked after by grandparents, while others are in a child-headed family environment. In this regard, Madonna should not have adopted the child but instead, with such prosperous financial success, she should have created a charity that she should have been funding to have a multiplier effect of helping a lot of Malawian underprivileged children.

Celebrities like Madonna, and more are needed, could render much help to our impoverished children by forming organisations, which they could closely monitor that should support children to go to school, have food, access accommodation, and have good medical services.

Removing children from their local environments could bring a risk of severing their roots and creating a generation without a sense of true identity. Why not support the child's paternal father, house them, feed them, educate the little boy and give him the chance to succeed in his own society?

In one of his lovely songs, music maestro Mlaka Maliro, sang and I quote: “chuma chomadya popanda abale sichimakoma” (money doesn’t mean a lot when you don’t have your family and relations around you). To go with Mlaka’s thinking Madonna could have supported the father and child in its own district of Mchinji. He would grow up not knowing his roots and with good guidance the money that the musician could provide could and would have helped David’s family to prosper.

Celebrities of the Madonna calibre can make a huge difference not necessarily by adopting a child but give over a portion of the millions, which surely they have and to a certain extent, they undoubtedly don't use or need to improve the lives of hundreds if not thousands of children, not only in Mchinji but most parts of Malawi. It would help to leave these children where they are in their native locality and make a better life for them.

Many have said that taking this child away from his homeland is right because he'll have access to money and education. That could be true. But with the association with Madonna and whether the London or the American home, as has already been noted about the publicity that the issue has attracted, this little boy will grow up being hounded by the press and we are supposed to think that this is a better life. After a second think, we will realise its wrong and not pleasant!

Also, it is not very right for celebrities to just be able to adopt children from less fortunate countries like ours just by opening a cheque book. We should not create a precedent! Next time it would help if celebrities go through all proper adoption channels like every one else..

On Lake Chilwa

(This article appeared in the Traveller Magazine)

Lake Chilwa – Malawi’s forgotten lake?

Stories and pictures by Hastings Maloya

If a group of primary school pupils were asked today to name Malawi’s second largest lake, surely it would take sometime before a correct answer is given. Not only among primary school pupils, even secondary school students may not know which lake in Malawi is second to Lake Malawi in size.

More so, known professionals in different fields may not have an immediate idea that Lake Chilwa is Malawi's second largest lake. It could be a forgotten lake but it does not deserve to be. How about the fact that it is one of the most productive lakes in Africa?

Situated in the country's former capital of Zomba, about 70 km from the commercial city of Blantyre, Lake Chilwa is a shallow tropical salt-water lake with no outlet. The inland drainage lake stretches 60km long and 40km wide and shared in boundary by Phalombe, Machinga and Zomba districts. Many people are silently benefiting from this shallow body of water, which is only seven metres at its deepest point.

Over 6000 fishers ply their trade on the salty waters of Lake Chilwa. It has a dozen of fish species with a highest population of herrings (matemba). It is estimated that over 20% of fish caught in Malawi, comes from Lake Chilwa. Wherever one may live in Malawi despite whatever distance it could be from Zomba, but whoever enjoys fish for a meal may have had a taste of local matemba. And they are all from Lake Chilwa. Then, there is the popular matemba a Domasi – proudly a Lake Chilwa product.

The lake also lies in the boundary between Malawi and Mozambique to the east. It is therefore a route for people travelling to and from both countries. This creates a major trade route for informal import and export of goods between the two countries. Ferry owners and operators transit goods including bicycles, cement, iron sheets, sugar, soft drinks and many more through the waters of Lake Chilwa.

On the lake are two islands of Chisi and Thongwe. Chisi the bigger island has a population of over 2000 habitants. Their main source of livelihood is fishing.

The lake and its wetland is also a home of large populations of breeding waterfowls and an estimated 1000 bird catchers are economically relying on the lake. Lake Chilwa and its wetland boasts a total of 161 localised bird species and 41 Palaearctic migrant bird species with a total estimated bird population of 350, 000. The lake also supports large populations of breeding waterfowls.

What a beautiful place for bird watching.

The existence of fish and other natural resources on Lake Chilwa which are sustaining thousands of people economically, makes it not only one of the most productive lakes in Africa but unique as well.

The Lake Chilwa wetland was declared a listed site under the Ramsar Convention on March 14 1997 making it qualify as a wetland of international importance alongside other wetlands of the same nature world-wide. The wetland comprises open water, typha swamp, marsh and flood plain grassland. It has a vegetation that is used for economic activities like making brooms, baskets, fish traps and building materials for roofs, walls and fences. The grassland also forms the basis for existence of livestock.

However, the majority of Ramsar-listed wetlands in Africa and elsewhere are situated in national parks and are thus legally protected. This is not the case with Lake Chilwa wetland. It is an open-access common resource, which lies in one of the most densely populated and impoverished areas of Africa, making it a unique wetland with unique problems.

To get to Lake Chilwa, from Zomba town go on with the road to Liwonde to Matawale turn off; take the Air wing road about 30 km of dusty road past Govala Trading Centre takes you to Kachulu Harbour. You are at Lake Chilwa!

It’s a place worth travelling to.

On Mt Mulanje

(This article appeared in This is Malawi Magazine)
Mount Mulanje, Malawi's Island in the Sky

by Hastings Maloya

Malawi is very rich in natural resources, which makes it indisputably one of the most beautiful countries in the world. These resources, if put to full potential use, as observed by tourism experts, could complement dwindling foreign exchange earning from agriculture. One such resource that the country needs to be proud of is the Mulanje Mountain.

Situated about 80 km from the commercial city Blantyre, past the green beautiful tea field of the Thyolo Highlands, the attractive Mulanje with its Sapitwa Peak, standing over 3000m above sea level, is not only the highest mountain but also the most impressive and unique massif in the southern and central African region. With its evergreen forests, woodlands and Montane grasslands, the mountain has attracted increasing attention to many tourists.

Mulanje Mountain is much more than a barren rock. Covering an area of 640,000 hectares within Mulanje and Phalombe districts, the mountain has a Forest Reserve thus made up of a range of ecological habitats from rain forest to alpine, woodland to grassland. There is a great diversity of plant and animal life and many of species are endemic. The most famous endemic is the magnificent and endangered Mulanje cedar, Malawi¹s National Tree, which dominates the high altitude forests.

The great variety of wildflowers make the Mulanje grasslands a delight at any time of year but especially during the rainy season, during which time, the plateau is a riot of colour with, amongst many other species, orchids, gladioli and red hot pokers. The Mulanje Massif, apart from its natural beauty, is an important ecosystem. It has stunning forests which are a source of timber and other non-timber resources and home to a rich and diverse endemic plants and animals. The mountain also boasts the presence of hundreds of both localised and migrant bird species

The bird life of this afro-montane habitat is rich and species range from the impressive crowned and black eagles to Malawi¹s only endemic the yellow-throated apalis. The mammals, which include serval cats, hyrax, duiker and bushbuck, are shy and elusive but some are occasionally seen. Two species of dwarf chameleon and several lizard species are only found on this Mountain and in the streams are frogs that also occur nowhere else in the world.

Apart from the famous Sapitwa Peak, there are a lot of striking sites on this massif that has a grouping of lovely hills. Some appealing sites on top of the mountains include the splendid Chambe basin and the superlative Lichenya and wonderful Sombani Plateau. How about the outstanding Rou Gorge and exquisite water falls?

The weather on the top, with the breeze from the natural woodlands, makes the mountain an alternative place worth spending time at. It is therefore not surprising that there are always a lot of people from different parts of the world that visit the mountain with love to appreciate the wonders of nature.

A group of students from England that visited the mountain recently saw the need to leave a comment about the mountain. After what they called 'a three hour task of climbing the hills up to Chambe peak,' the students wrote in a visitor's book:

"What seemed to be a never ending uphill trudge soon led us over the hill to our first view of the beautiful Chambe peak." Three days of their stay in a suitable mountain hut was too little for what they were to see on the mountain. They left with emotive words describing what they saw; "Absolutely gorgeous place that will be described to all of England when we get home. Loved it!"

Bounded by precipitous slopes and a series of discontinuous marginal plateaus, the massif, shared by Mulanje and Phalombe districts is also vital for watershed protection. It is a catchment of headwaters for nine strong rivers in the two districts. Apart from the sturdy perennial rivers, tens of streams have their sources in the mountains. Mulanje Mountain has been managed by the Department of Forestry as a Forest Reserve since 1927.

There are about nine well constructed Mountain huts on the mountain that will offer you a lovely and memorable sleeping time within natural noises and away from hassles. You just need to bring your food and you are safe! Among the well established mountain huts are Lichenya, Chambe, Minunu, Thuchila, Sombani, Chisepo, Madzeka and the CCAP Hut on Lichenya plateau. Well trained and well behaved porters and guides are readily available to assist.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Mulanje offers spectacular hiking on the plateau and peaks, fly-fishing and invigorating swimming in the crystal-clear mountain waters. For the really adventurous there is also serious rock climbing - the west face of Chambe peak provides the chance to undertake 1,700 metres of technical climbing and is the highest rock climb in Africa.

Those that have not been to Mulanje yet, and have not been up onto Mount Mulanje, have not done justice to themselves. Its time they did just that!

On Aids and Soccer

An available way to fight HIV/Aids through football

by Hastings Maloya

Whether it is by design or default, most hospitals and health centres in Malawi have a football team. Different thoughts can be debated as to the relevance of a health institution to have a football team. It could be that football is such a famous or beautiful sport that many people would love to be associated with. It could also be a way for health institutions to get a mixing pleasure with communities that they serve as people come to watch a team thus carrying a name of their hospital, clinic or health centre.

The availability of teams aside, what has interested me lately is that almost all teams with thus carrying a name of a medical institution is doing very well in respective district soccer leagues through out the country. Names like Rumphi Medicals, Liwonde Medicals, Chikwawa Medicals, Salima Medicals, Mulanje Medicals and the list is endless are heard day in and day out for their impressive soccer talents in their respective district leagues.

Some of them have gone further to participate in the newly launched FAM Cup. What a feat!

Now wait a minute.

Apart from just playing soccer and registering positive results, are there no messages that these teams can carry? I have in mind the HIV/Aids pandemic thus on our midst.

It does not need to be overemphasised that soccer, despite whether it is played in urban or rural areas, attracts huge gatherings and of people from different walks of life, thus both male and females, old and young. Here is an opportunity thus being wasted. Here are people who only come to watch soccer, they talk soccer and will come again to the football ground the following week to watch soccer, talk soccer and go home.

I am certainly sure that the spectators, apart from watching soccer they could also ably listen to different messages that they could take with them back home. In this regards I have the medical teams in mind. To supplement their winning streaks , these teams must be supported to all carry messages to the people especially on the dangers of HIV/Aids and how to prevent the spread of the disease.

My call is to the National Aids Commission (NAC) to take advantage of this well established system which could prove an easy way of message delivery. One would argue that maybe there is need to develop a proposal to NAC for this noble task. I would say there is no need to do that because the teams to be used are already in the health system. It would just be an opportunity to reach more people who could not be able to get the same messages from the hospitals.

NAC should develop a deliberate policy or programme by incorporating in their system some creative people that would maximise any available opportunity like this case of soccer especially at district level. Support in any form to medical teams like uniforms with proclamation scribbled on them would go along way in message delivery.

The teams have already proved good on the field of play and there is no way they would fail to deliver to save Malawi. Most of them, in fact, have very energetic and sporty young men who may not want to be associated with failure.

Organisations like the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) have used sports in message delivery on natural resource and environmental management and it has bore fruits. What can stop us fight Aids through sports?

The author is Treasurer for Mulanje Medicals

Cry our Environment

This article appeared in the Sunday Times of June 5, 2005
A one year stock-taking on our environment

Since 1972 June 5, every year is World Environmental Day (WED), a day set aside by the United Nations as one of the principal vehicles through which nations the world over should stimulate awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and action.

Today Malawi joins the international community in commemorating the day under the global theme “Green Cities” and the slogan is “Plan for the Planet!” Locally the theme has been narrowed down to “Keep our cities Green and Clean”. Environmental journalist HASTINGS MALOYA ponders on the theme in relation to challenges facing our cities and towns.

Once upon a time, people leaving in and around the cities of Lilongwe and Blantyre had pride in the free flows of Lilongwe, Lingazi, Mudi, Limbe and Likhubula rivers, just to mention but a few. Women would do much of their laundries in the rivers while children would spend afternoons playing in the waters, of course learning the art of swimming. Others would enjoy the rare trade of fishing from the rivers while others would use them as a source of water for small scale irrigation.

The same was the case in other towns like Zomba and Mzuzu where availability of water in the rivers did not only ease house chore activities but also added beauty to the towns especially with the provision of wonderful vegetation in the river banks that made towns look green and beautiful..

With its beautiful trees and flowers, the City of Blantyre was once known worldwide due to its cleanliness and caring residents. There were designated places where one would litter and refuse collection was order of the day. Today it is a completely changed situation, not only in Blantyre but in all our cities, towns and districts. Litter is everywhere, surely an eyesore and residents seem they mind very little of how they should manage waste. The rivers that people used to be proud of now have no water and are a supply of pungent smells following piles and piles of waste.

The rivers are polluted and this has led to inadequate access to safe drinking water and cause to different sicknesses. Another hitch is lack of proper sanitation facilities and overcrowded conditions in our cities and towns due to unplanned expanded settlements which pose a high risk of communicable diseases and caused additional pressure on management of waste. We continuously witness residents dispose waste in a lamentable manner. Our towns and cities today are no longer a pleasant sight – yes they are full of waste. This is not only bad to our health but to our environment too. No body can claim to be happy with the current situation.

We can fairly define waste as leftovers after products have been made by producers and have been used by consumers. Waste can be quite hazardous to the health of humans as well as plants and animals. Common waste in domestic garbage include cans, bottles, cardboard and paper, plastic, and rotting organic material.

Much waste in a form of volume of garbage in our cities and towns come from our own homes, offices and schools. Packaging of the products sold in most shops has also been another cause of the pathetic situation that our cities are in today. Of late there has been a lot of paper being distributed from shops in the form of carrier bags but which have not been carefully disposed after use.

Most of our industries lack responsible strategies for dealing with the waste by-products of their manufacturing processes. And not much has been said in condemning the production and release of waste from industries simply because industries have been looked at as an engine for economic growth and a starting place of development. We have therefore ended up living in very a very polluted environment in our quest to support industrial growth.

And our towns cities and districts lack regular waste collection services hence we have noticed garbage building up on road sides, footpaths and vacant land, especially along river banks. With little understanding, knowledge and awareness we have let things happen the way they do without raising much concern. Sometimes we have only complained within ourselves while situations continue to deteriorate.

Most unfortunately this appalling situation comes after peoples’ realisation that the traditional reliance on landfill as a method of disposal can create its own set of problems. In the first place, landfills take up space which in most cases, especially in cities and towns, is very valuable. Secondly, landfills can eventually 'leak' - releasing a toxic mix of rainwater and decomposing waste into the soil and groundwater.

However, all is not lost yet. Commemoration of the World Environment Day should open up new horizons and give us an opportune time to take stock of the environment that we live in. It should be a people's event to promote an understanding that we have a responsibility to changing attitudes towards management of our surroundings. The day should be used to advocate means of ensuring that people enjoy a safer living environment. On this day, it would be imperative for us to examine the state of our environment and seriously consider actions which each of us must take with a sober mind and quiet confidence.

It also takes people in responsible positions in our cities and towns to measure their performance against the environmental situation of their responsible towns and cities. It should be a shame for a responsible officer to be seen in the city jumping up and down in the streets trying to avoid piles of waste or when an officer witnesses minibus commuters throwing litter through windows.

For example, in his message on the commemoration of the day, Governor of California State in the US, Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger has promised to passionately commit himself to defending California's environment, and providing real leadership to protect its precious land, air and water.

“Here in California, we have rejected the notion that we must choose between protecting the environment, and protecting jobs and economic growth. We know that if our beaches are soiled by oil spills, tourists will not experience the wonders of our magnificent coastline. If we log our forests irresponsibly, streambeds will be destroyed and our fishing industry will suffer”, says the well known film star of the Terminator fame.

And the California Governor advises: “If we are going to leave a better planet for generations to come, we must work within a global effort to ensure the economy and the environment never become competing interests”. It is encouraging and indeed exciting when people whom we have known most in the entertainment or rather in political circles make positive comments in relation to the day.

To us, this day should be for stock taking. Let us accept that we have done much damage to our environment and we have lost the pride of having beautiful towns and cities. We have irresponsibly turned our towns and cities as dumping grounds. But all in all, we are ready to reverse the situation.

For a while, let us look at the environment as our surroundings and check whether we are using our natural resources in a sustainable manner and how we dispose unwanted materials in our daily living. This will give a human face to environmental issues and we would empower ourselves to becoming active agents of environmental management as an aspect of development.

The media has a big role to play. As observed recently by the deputy minister of mines, natural resources and environmental affairs Sidik Mia environment is a key component of the country’s sustainable development. Mia bemoaned lukewarm reporting on environment by Malawian journalists and urged them to report more observing that the media is a better channel that would enable people and institutions to appreciate serious environmental problems facing the country.

“One of the deficiencies identified in achieving the noble task of informing and educating Malawians, is lack of proper reporting and sufficient coverage of issues that matter,” observed Mia.

Malawi also lacks environmental education. Environment should be considered as a subject in the curriculum so that school going children whether in kindergarten, primary or secondary are instilled with environmental issues at a tender age. They definitely would grow while appreciating the environment that they live in and taking steps to jealously gourd it.

For government, the observance of the World Environment Day should provide an opportunity to establish permanent government structures dealing with environmental management and economic planning for sustainable and equitable development. So far the Malawi Government has done considerable strides on the environmental management. A lot of policies in line with good environmental management have been produced.

Through the Department of Environmental Affairs the government has facilitated the production of district and national State of Environment Reports and Environmental Action Plans. While State of Environment Reports enlighten environmental situations, Action Plans provide strategies and directions on management.

However, we cannot talk of environmental management as an achievement relating to the production of reports or plans or policy reviews alone. These documents may be useless unless information contained in them is put to better use. Considering the state of our cities and towns today, the need for empowerment and instillation of ownership among residents cannot be overemphasized.

It is only unfortunate that the concept of the environment is fairly new and this presents a challenging task to sensitize people on the effects of poor waste management and ideas of sustainability. However, it only takes us to acknowledge that we are the custodians of places that we live in and it is our responsibility to care for our environment.

Many people view their environment as solely natural resources to benefit from and rarely question the aftermath effects of overuse or abuse of resources. It’s also very difficult to change ones mentality if benefits cannot be seen immediately with the proposed change. One must also appreciate issues of poverty and livelihoods and that people are not deliberately trying to destroy their environment but rather they are trying to survive in the short term.

As we join the international community in observing the day, we have a challenge to mend our situation. After reading this piece, look at your surrounding – if you are not happy the way it is, what do you think should be done? And who should do it? Surely it is yourself.

On Honey & Money

This article appeared in Sapitwa Newsletter and the Sunday Times

From bees now come money

by Hastings Maloya

Stories of bees having disturbed gatherings especially at funerals are very common in Malawi. Through the popular Nkhani za Mmaboma programme on MBC Radio 2, stories have been said on how bees in different parts of the country have made people run for their lives. To some extent communities have associated bees with some kind of witchcraft. But apart from the fact that bees can sting and cause havoc, what more do we know about them?

They produce honey.

And indeed over the years since time in memorial, people especially in Africa have enjoyed honey from bees. It could be the process of getting honey thus cumbersome but the joy associated with it surpasses the problems in trying to get it. The taste of honey has also led to lovers calling each other ‘honey’ in comparison to the taste thus delivered from products of bees.

Now honey is money. In most parts of Malawi, today bee keeping has become a potential activity that is quickly becoming a source of income. It is also an initiative in line with sustainable natural resource conservation and utilisation. Different non-governmental organisations that are promoting sustainable livelihood initiatives are encouraging communities to take up a challenge in bee keeping.

The Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) is facilitating bee keeping initiatives among communities living in and around the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve. The ultimate output is conservation of Mulanje Mountain natural resources and improved economic status of communities living in the boundaries.

According to Moffat Kayembe, programme officer responsible for forest co-management and sustainable livelihoods for MMCT, the initiative started in 2003 with three villages in the areas of traditional authority Mabuka and Nkanda in Mulanje. Fifteen individuals from the three villages showed interest and started bee keeping with an initial production was 45Kg, which was sold at MK120.00/Kg and MK5, 400.00 was realised by people.

“Since then, many people developed interest and now we have several people that are engaged in this activity”, says Kayembe. He explained that by the end of 2005, 15 villages and 300 farmers respectively were in full swing with bee keeping and honey production in the areas of traditional authority Nkanda and Mabuka.

“At this point, production had increased from 45Kgs to 1000Kgs (1tonne) and prices have gone up from MK120.00/Kg to 145.00/Kg. Based on the good quality, more buyers are now interested to buy honey from Mulanje. In addition, people from 20 more villages including those from traditional Authority Mkhumba in Phalombe district have been trained and ready to start bee keeping and honey harvesting.

Kayembe says the training for bee keepers include technical aspects of beehive construction, installation, monitoring, record keeping, harvesting, storage and general hygiene. Through the training, people are now able to harvest honey without using fire thereby maintaining the resources in a way they naturally would be.


“The increased beekeeping activities are a clear indication that the initiative is empowering people economically while promoting conservation of natural resources around the mountain,” says Kayembe.

Kayembe explained that currently, 6 villages, which are under beekeeping initiative, have decided to go into a Forest Co-Management arrangement with Department of Forestry where management of resources would be done in partnership between communities and the department. This, observes Kayembe, is a positive way forward towards sustainable utilization of natural resources and community’s’ participation in natural resource management. To ensure that the groups are both economically and technically sustainable experienced beekeepers are challenged to train beginners as a way of using available resources and expertise within the local set up.

Meanwhile the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM) is the main local buyer of the produced honey which is eventually treated, bottled and sold in the country’s super stores.

Who does not want honey!

On Snakes

Nalikukuti, One of Malawi's popular snakes

by Hastings Maloya

A relatively small but long snake. Very common in most parts of Malawi. This could be one of the snakes that most people have managed to see or heard of in and around their localities. It is very common but has caused minimum harm on people.

This is a vine snake , which is also known as a twig snake, or sometimes it is referred to as a bird snake. It is locally known as nalikukuti or kalikukuti but its scientific name, which is mostly used by scientists and biologists is Thelotornis capensis.

An adult vine snake would averagely be 80cm long but most of them are 1.2m long. According to records, the longest so far was recorded in Mozambique and was 1.47m long. The vine snake is always thin and looks small despite its age. It does not have a specific colour because mostly it resembles the colour of the environment in which it is found. The snake is cryptically coloured or camouflaged especially when it is motionless in a tree or on a shrub. It resembles tree branches or twigs (hence the name twig snake).

Despite its size, a vine can swallow something two or three times its size. Though timid and tiring, the vine snake will inflate its neck to display its anger when threatened. It actively hunts for food during the day. It takes time to catch its prey but when it does, no matter how long it would take to swallow it, it would. It is a slow eater but with a very flexible neck that allows big prey to pass. The vine mainly eats lizards, chameleons and frogs. Snakes and birds are also taken on occasion. This snake usually strikes from above and often swallows its prey. It spits and the venom takes control of the prey!

The difference between a male and a female is not enormous. A male has much longer tails than the females and women (females) are more heavy-bodied than males. If not disturbed, this snake can stay motionless on the same spot for four days. In most cases, the vine snake changes position or moves from wherever it is when it is disturbed. Just as is the case with most snakes, the vine snake does not move in pairs nor is it seen with its off springs. This snake is a beauty to watch for those that have a liking for snakes.

The vine snake has a coloured long tongue, which mostly is bright yellow to orange-red but black to its tip. As is the case with any other snake, the vine has a forked tongue. And just like any other snake, the vine uses its tongue for smell and not taste as is the case with other animals. Every snake uses its tongue to smell and look for its prey. A snake does not need a feel of taste because it enjoys what it normally eats. Be assured that the forked tongue of a snake can not harm or sting in any way and is used only for smelling.

As stated above, Thelotornis capensis is mostly found in trees and shrubs in lowland forest to moist savanna and arid savannas. In other words, the vine snake is predominantly found in the southern Africa region and mainly in countries like Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa. Among the countries, South Africa has the most population. This could be because most South Africans love keeping snakes and they are serious on regulations about conservation of wild animals.

These snakes are not naturally found in Europe. Izi ndi zathu zathu za ku Africa. Of course Sweden has some but are all exported from Southern Africa

For the sake of interest, and to be sure you have seen a vine snake, look out for:
• Lance-shaped head with keyhole-shaped pupil
• Superbly camouflaged as a branch or twig
• Inflates the neck showing the skin colours when comforted
• Spends most of its life in trees and shrubs
• Top of the head is green or blue-green
• Red and black tongue is held out when threatened

Most people in Malawi are yet to develop the liking for snakes. As such very few individuals keep snakes. And the vine snake has not been fashionable among snake keepers.

On Porters Race

This article appeared in ULENDO - Air Malawi's Inflight Magazine
The tenth time racing in the mountain
by Hastings Maloya

Some ten years ago it was an event not worth noticing. It wasn’t an event that would attract the interest of a cabinet minister. It wasn’t an event that would make one travel all the way from Europe to participate. Ten years down the line, it is an event that everyone would want to be part of be associated with. Yes you are not wrong, thus the Mount Mulanje Porters Race, Malawi’s only extreme sport.

Originally, the Porters Race was a competition limited to porters and guides (who escort tourists up the mountain). Later it became an annual event attracting any interested runner and over the years it has become a big event through which Malawi has produced reputable athletes. It’s a Race whose participants prove not only strong but that they have a passion for natural beauty apart from looking for honours. And the 2006 Race was not just a race, but a remarkable one attracting 438 runners out of which 148 were female and 28 were foreigners.

News about this race was known from January when notices flew all over and it sounded like a long distance to get to July 15. The runners waited patiently looking forward to the date while the organisers were putting in everything to make sure that the event is a success. Sponsors were also looking forward with great anticipation to the event.

It was a beautiful Saturday morning and the weather was cool. People around Likhubula Forest Office, venue for the race woke up as early as 4’oclock in the morning looking forward to what tuned out to be an outstanding occasion. At exactly 6 o’clock, the Minister of Information and Tourism, Hon Patricia Kaliyati was already at the venue, signs of something good to come! Joined by her my ministry officials and members of parliament for Mulanje Pasani and Mulanje South, Hon Ebbie Mathanda and Ina Mezalumo respectively, the Minister was there clad in the running beep and ready for the big race.

But, would she and the other distinguished guests, make it into the mountain?

No, it had to take the masters of the trade to do it. The 25km race, which is open to all interested male and female athletes or runners above eighteen years of age and who feel fit enough to run in a rocky and hazardous route into the mountains, starts at Likhubula Forest Office. The runners trek to Chambe Plateau about 2500m above see level before proceeding via the plateau to Lichenya Plateau and back to Likhubula.

So the Honourable Minister only had to be on the starting line-up in an effort to give courage and morale to the runners and she did it very well! She saw the runners off and in less than three hours, we saw the winners coming back finishing a distance that would take one over 16 hours on a normal walk.

Malawi’s renowned athletes Francis Khanje and his female counterpart currently the junior SADC athlete’s champion Tereza Master carried the day during the gruesome race in the male and female category respectively.

Twenty-two year old Khanje crossed the finishing line after 2 hours 17 minutes to claim the first position but failed to beat the standing record of 2hours 12minutes set by Byson Willy who had won the race for three consecutive years. It wasn’t a good year for Willy this time round as he came out on position four.

In the female category Master proved to be the fastest female runner in the past 10 years when she finished after 2 hours 49 minutes making it an all time record for a female runner. The previous record was 3 hours and 11 minutes

Both Khanje and Master went away with K20 000 each, certificates and beautiful trophies courtesy of NBS Bank, Malawi’s caring bank. The Bank also honoured winners for the second and third positions for both categories with MK15, 000 and MK10, 000 respectively.

Charles Musowa maintained the second position, which he won last year and was trailed by Paul Sitima. Nancy Matanda and Mwandida Mpandawawo were the proud holders of the second and third positions in the female category.

“I trained hard. The pain in me was that Willy had won this race three consecutive years. There was need to stop him. I am happy I have done it,” said Khanje with smiles. And Master said, “I am excited. I have conquered the mountain and this is a warning to all female runners in Malawi.”

Impressed with the whole event, Minister Kaliyati said the Porters’ Race has a capacity to put Malawi on the international map and encouraged the organisers to put in more efforts in future. She promised her Ministry’s support towards organisation of the race.

“My ministry is currently working on strategies of how tourism products can be diversified through cultural activities and sports. I am very hopeful that as we move towards the 2010 World Cup which will be host by South Africa, Malawi will have strategically positioned herself as a major sporting tourism destination,” said the Minister.

The 2006 Porters Race enjoyed the proud sponsorship of NBS Bank, Rab Processors Malawi Limited, Kingfisher Associates, Population Service International (PSI), Bowler Beverages, Dispatch Newspaper, Dairibord Malawi, Arkay Plastics and Multochoice Malawi..

Mount Mulanje with its Sapitwa Peak standing over 3,000 metres above sea level is not only the highest mountain but also the most impressive massif in the south-eastern African region. Situated to the south east of Malawi, to the border with Mozambique, Mulanje Mountain has attracted attention of researchers and tourists from different parts of the world. Mulanje Mountain and its forest reserve ranks high in terms of terrestrial biodiversity richness in Malawi. Globally it is an ecological site. Mulanje Mountain is also a home to Malawi’s national tree, Mulanje Cedar (Widdringtonia Whytei).

The massif, covering an area of 250,000 hectares and shared by Mulanje and Phalombe districts, has a very rich and stunning forest reserve, which is a home to a rich and diverse endemic plant and animal species. The forests and woodlands are vital for watershed protection and is the catchment of headwaters for nine strong rivers in the two districts. The mountain also represents an important source of resources like firewood, grass (for thatching), water, timber, animals, and fruits. Close to a million people have their livelihood dependent on resources from the Mountain and the Forest Reserve. To underscore the importance on this resource, the government of Malawi gazetted Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve as a protected area in 1927.

This Hastings Maloya

Hastings Maloya is currently working as Programme Officer responsible for Environmental Education, Awareness and Communications for the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) since September 1, 2002. Hastings, who comes from Tradional Authority Mabuka in Mulanje District, was born on January 21, 1972 at Mulanje Mission Hospital. He is an Adventist Christian, married to Emily and have two daughters Eva and Eve (seen in the picture).

Professional Highlights
• Public relations, feature and story writing and editing, press releases, photography and video production
• Production of radio and TV documentary programmes and information pieces like posters, brochures, newsletters
• Practical experience in development communication and action research
• Desktop publishing and designing (Quark Express, Adobe Indesign, PageMaker, PhotoShop and Microsoft Publisher
• Practical experience in Environmental Education, public awareness and development communications
• Practical experience in working with community leaders and youths
• Introductory skills and experience in Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
• Experience in workshop organising, facilitation and training
• Knowledge of website development and management, use of the internet and e-mail
• Practical experience in community mobilisation

Employment History
(a) Programme Officer –Environmental Education, Awareness and Communications MMCT.
(b) Communications Specialist for the DANIDA -funded Capacity Development in Environment (CDE) Project– Lilongwe
(c) Community Liaison Officer – DANIDA-funded Lake Chilwa Wetland and Catchment Management Project
(d) Communications Officer for the Projects Office – CCAP Blantyre Synod
(e) Editor for the Business Telegraph newspaper
(f) Associate Editor for the Independent Newspaper
(g) Assistant Editor/Reporter for the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)

Missing in Mt Mulanje

(This article appeared in the Sunday Times of 10 September, 2006)

Three years missing in the mountain

by Hastings Maloya

“Three years gone, yes but I still have a feeling like it is only a dream,” says Emie Suliwa almost shading tears in disbelief. She raises her head and through my office window she looks at the magnificent Mulanje Mountain. Shakes her head again and says, “in that mountain, my friend Linda Pronk went missing three years ago.”

Emie works as an office assistant for InfoMulanje, the information centre that offers all tourism information about Mulanje Mountain. When I normally call her to my office, her expectation is that there is some information that she needs to collect or has to clarify on the number of tourists that have visited the mountain in a given period. Wednesday, September 13, could not have been a good day to call Emie to my office.

It was far from what she had expected. She was shocked when I mentioned to her that I wanted to have a brief interview with her as I was writing an article on the missing of Linda in Mulanje Mountain. She recalled, it was on September 13, and this was exactly three years after the demise. For a while, I had to change the subject a bit to let her take a breath before continuing with the interview.

Linda Pronk, a 22-year-old Dutch citizen, served as a development worker with the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) working in the laboratory of the CCAP Mulanje Mission Hospital. On Saturday 13th September, 2003, Linda set off, alone, to climb Sapitwa peak, the highest point of Mount Mulanje. She has not been seen since.

Linda was no stranger to Mulanje, she worked at the CCAP Mission Hospital and had enjoyed climbing the mountain many times, explains Emie.

“We went up the mountain on Friday and we were a group of more than seven. We camped at the newly constructed Chisepo hut and we had all the fun that is associated with mountain climbing,” recalls Emie. “I left the mountain early on Saturday because I had some assignments to sort out down here. We agreed with Linda to meet the following day as she still remained with other friends. I never knew; it was the last time that I had seen her”.

On this particular day, while they were still at Chisepo hut, basically the base of Sapitwa, it is said that Linda expressed an interest to climb the peak and was advised by the rest of the group not too attempt it on her own. Later, it was noticed that she was not on the vicinity of the camp and apparently she might have started off to the peak. That was all about the young Dutch girl.

The alarm was raised early on the Sunday morning and a message was sent down speedily to Likhubula Forest Office. The request for assistance was communicated to the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust and Mulanje Mission Hospital, and soon after, the police were also informed.

I was in office that Sunday but I could not know what to do let alone where to start from, if indeed I was to do anything. There was no rescue plan at hand, no specified leadership, no trained personnel, little equipment and no radio communication! However, there was a rapid reaction from concerned organisations and institutions immediately, a base was established at Kambenje Village, and a search had started.

According to Carl Bruessow, Executive Director of MMCT, the main achievement that day was the climb that was made in very difficult rains by some porters to reach Chisepo with radio and other basic supplies so that there was at least communication between top and bottom. Police, porters, friends, forestry staff and colleagues all rallied to join the effort but lo! there had been no sign of Linda during the searches made in the vicinity of the Sapitwa path. The stormy, wet cold weather atop made life even more difficult.

First thing Monday morning, I got a call from the Daily Times, I stammered before confirming that indeed we were in a situation as a young lady is missing in the mountain. “We are trying all we can and I am hopeful that we may succeed by the end of the day.” I said and could not take more questions. Just as I thought that was enough, it was another call from the Nation, then Power 101fm, before MBC came in. I could tell indeed how serious this issue is. What with the BBC getting wind of the news and their correspondent was already on line for clarification.

Then came a game capture helicopter from Majete Wildlife Reserve to assist in a sky search, if only to raise the morale of Linda, should she be stuck somewhere in that bad weather. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday saw very difficult weather conditions with strong cold winds, heavy cloud and rain prevailing for most of the days.

The area above Chisepo towards Sapitwa is very rugged with many steep slopes interspersed by boulder-strewn stream valleys. According to Bruessow, the helicopter flew at least ten hours of aerial searches over these days negotiating the difficult winds around the peaks. Seven days later, the search effort was beginning to lose momentum as people had to leave the mountain to attend their normal commitments. Hope was beginning to be lost.

In the October - December, 2006 edition of Sapitwa newsletter, Bruessow wrote, “the improved weather over the next four days through to Saturday enabled a full search to be launched and coordinated. At full capacity between 60 and 75 searchers worked the rugged mountain-top carrying out group line searches, often covering priority areas several times.”

All efforts by the army and police bore no fruits. Another effort ten days later was made by a number of dog-sniffer teams who flew out from the Netherlands and gave of their time over five days, again turning up with nothing. And as Bruessow puts it, ordinarily, in any usual situation Linda should have been found but it was not to be and the reason for this failure will elude us for some time.

Thirty-one local traditional healers and medicine men came with different skills and different approaches. Others went through the office of the District Commissioner while others came through village heads and recognised local leaders. They raised the hopes that one of them would succeed in finding the missing lady. It could not work.

Preachers and leaders of different religious beliefs and sectors also participated in the search. They used different approaches and methodologies, still it is three years this week, no success registered.

As for the local people living around the mountain, ancestral spirits played a role in the missing of Linda. They say there are spirits in the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve and can react in case they are not happy with a particular situation.

“My advice is that we should visit the mountain with respect. This is a treasurer for the people of Mulanje and Phalombe. It must be respected,” says a chief from Phalombe without elaborating.

To date, there is nothing conclusive as to what exactly happened. Someone is yet to come up with a possible assumption. And Emie concludes our interview saying, “sometimes you can not tell about this mountain. Some things you just can not understand them, maybe thus what makes it more important.”

All in all, this tragic incident on the mountain should serve to remind us all to strongly adhere to the well-established safety principles that guide mountain climbing.

No-one can really tell what exactly happened to Linda. However, notwithstanding this unfortunate event, Mount Mulanje remains one unique resource for Malawi as it continues to attract tourist from all over the world. According to the laws of Malawi, Linda shall only be declared dead after seven years. Practically, we have four more years to concretely say the final word about her. But then, where is she? Living in the mountain?

Hastings Maloya is Programme Officer for environmental education
and communications for the Mulanje Mountain
Conservation Trust (MMCT)

On Minister Kaliati

Kaliati was to apologise to who and why?
by Hastings Maloya

The just-ended sitting of parliament will definitely go down the memory lane. It was long, tough and a heated one. For the first time, we were about to witness a rejection of a national budget. What an unfortunate thing that could have been!

Personally I have never enjoyed commenting on issues to do with parliament let alone about conduct of parliamentarians. Because I aspire to becoming a legislature at some point, I always believe that our parliamentarians know what they are supposed to do in the August house for the best of the nation.

However the issue about demand for an apology from the Minister of Information and Tourism Honourable Patricia Kaliyati before passing the budget allocation for her ministry has made me go against my norm of not commenting about parliament. Much as thoughts of the honourable members need to be respected, it is not easy to imagine people with the welfare of the nation at heart, to refuse passing a budget vote, not because of its contents, but because of an individual.

When it was reported that parliament has finally approved the 2006/07 budget and that the impasse on the Ministry of Information vote was resolved by an arrangement that the Minister responsible should miss the session, which she duly obliged, I laughed and asked, so what have they achieved?

Just like most Malawians, I am still not convinced as to why Madame Kaliyati was supposed to apologise and apologise to who? Unless it is clearly stated that with effect from this sitting of parliament, anyone who utters statements that are not palatable will be asked to apologise. Otherwise there are tens and tens of examples of acts that needed a demand for an apology than forcing Malawians to comprehend the unfair demand on one Mrs. Kaliyati.

Some Mps dwelt much on the use of tax payer's money in the form of resources that maybe the minister uses in her infamous routine distribution of bad political language. However, there has not been a case or an example given of those that used public resources to a bad use and came out apologising, or asked to apologise.

Think of the former president Dr Bakili Muluzi’s public comments and pronouncements at political rallies. With peace he could call his opponents zimphonongolo, mutu ngati screw driver, mphuno biii – forsake! He even had an audacity to ridicule his on Vice, Hon. Justine Malewezi that he takes 32 tablets daily calling him munthu opusa uja! Kumbwambwana! How I wish our Parliament could at some point demand an apology for such utterances.

Who among us does not remember the acts of the young democrats? Think of our own Emie Chanika being beaten at the COMESA Hall in the full view of the police officers. Come to think of journalists being beaten on the streets of Blantyre. Examples are numerous and the list is endless yet to-date none of the culprits, despite some of them being known, has been asked to apologise. Worse still, they are yet to be brought to book despite the fact is that they inflicted pain on innocent Malawians. Its sad that our parliamentarians can not see that or maybe the poor souls do not deserve an apology.

It is said, and it has never been denied, that at some point, when Malawi was in dire need of food, some government officials thought it wise to sell to Kenya the only grain that we had. Malawians were left to starve to death when a few selfish individuals were swimming in money through such an inhuman act. And up to this very day our good law makers do not see anything to demand an apology for this.

Our parliamentarians, in their competence as law makers, need to elucidate as to what sort of issues that would lead to a demand for an apology. Should the whole house really demand an apology for political statements? And if indeed thus what it should be, then there are more politicians than Mrs. Kaliyati that need to apologise. For those that have followed political comments from Dr. Hetherwick Ntaba, for example, one would think that he would have been the first one to be asked for an apology. At times it is very difficult to tell whether he is speaking for the government or for his party, but whichever between the two that he speaks for, he causes much more damage than good.

How about Minister George Chaponda who could not see the importance of councillors in local assemblies and indicated that government was not interested in local government elections despite each one of us knowing the importance of these elections. Wait a minute, did I hear our vocal opposition MPs asking Minister Chaponda to apologise? And I hear a deputy minister had to insult a police officer on duty, and todate no apology made? Ah! No. Surely our knowledgeable MPs demanded an apology!

Now, someone please tell Malawians why Honourable Kaliyati was asked to apologise for purely making a political statement and outside the house. It is also very important for the MPS to tell us why the demand for this apology was tied to a budget vote for the Ministry of Information and Tourism.

It would be a little bit unfair for lay people like us to think that maybe the so-called lawmakers had forgotten that ministers can be moved from one ministry to another at any time. Poor them if indeed they could not know that Kaliyati’s salary and benefits is already taken care of by the office of the president and cabinet. Very unfortunate if indeed our ‘honourables’ could not know that employees of the ministry, some of whom their own relations, would suffer simply by demanding an apology and tying it to a budget. This act can be described as the worst from our MPs.

The parliamentarians could have known that it is under Kaliyati’s leadership as Minister of Information that for the first time ever, Malawians were able to follow parliamentary deliberations live on MBC. Malawians were able to hear their MPs, others speaking geography instead of English. Under her leadership, Malawians could stay awake to watch parliamentary proceedings on Television Malawi. Our MPs could have known that for the first time we have a Minister of information who does not keep information to herself. My colleagues in the media will agree that for the first time we have a minister who would pick up a phone any time and will not give hassles for an interview.

What else does Malawi need? Before demanding an apology parliament was supposed to applaud the good job she has done and advise her to improve on areas that are not doing well.

From me, Thumbs up to Kaliyati. She never apologised! She has impressed me. Standing on her principles.

Street Vending & Environment

(this article appeared in the Sunday Times)

Of vending and effects on our environment
by Hastings Maloya

In the just-ended week, the government started flushing vendors out of the streets in urban centers. The move has received mixed reactions from different people with others supporting the it while others condemning it depending on one’s belief and understanding. Environmental journalist HASTINGS MALOYA ponders on how street vending in our cities and towns damaged the environment and the anticipation for an improvement when vendors shall no longer be on the streets.

About twelve years ago, when one lived in the rural areas, visiting cities like Blantyre and Lilongwe was a marvel. On the eve of a trip to the city, one would spend a sleepless night, not out of fear but eagerness to get into a different environment. It could be because of the nice buildings that one would see or the number of vehicles that the eyes would feast on, which were purely a dream in the village.

But apart from the infrastructures, simply Malawian cities were a beauty, so clean that walking along the streets was really a good thing. There were designated places where one would litter and refuse collection was order of the day. With wonderful vegetation in the city’s river banks that made the towns look green and beautiful, it was everybody’s wish to stay in town.

As years went by, the situation slowly changed, the beauty dramatically lost and the cleanliness completely gone. Today, litter is everywhere, and surely an eyesore. The available rivers in our cities that people used to be proud of, now have no water and are a source of pungent smells following piles of waste, which is quite hazardous to the health of humans as well as plants and animals.

There could be many causes to this change and different people would give different reasons.

One reason had been the coming in of street vending. Though it would be difficult to tell how vending slowly became part of our living in cities, it must be acknowledged that this trend led to unplanned expanded settlements. Many people trekked from the rural areas to settle in towns and cities with a belief that an available occupation was on the street.

The streets were therefore full of people and activities, which resulted in lack of proper sanitation facilities and overcrowded conditions. This also posed a high risk of communicable diseases and caused additional pressure on management of waste. Our towns and cities today are no longer a pleasant sight – yes they are full of waste. This is not only bad to our health but to our environment too. We have noted people turning walls of buildings and tree trunks into toilets.

Nature of business and places of operation of such businesses has always been a very big problem. For example how could we allow the sell of alcohol at a hospital premises? Packaging of the products sold by most vendors has also been another cause of the pathetic situation that our cities are in today. We have noticed garbage piling up on road sides, footpaths and vacant land, especially along river banks. Sometimes we have only complained within ourselves while the situation continued to deteriorate.

However, all is not lost yet.

The move by the government to remove vendors from the streets should be applauded and looked at as stock taking. This should not be apolitical issue but a developmental one. Let us accept that by accepting vending in the streets of our cities, we did much damage to our environment and in the process we lost the pride of having beautiful towns and cities. We irresponsibly turned our towns and cities into dumping grounds.

As observed by the Minister of Rural Development, George Chaponda, the removal of the vendors must be seen as good for Malawi. It is now high time for people in responsible positions in our cities and towns to measure their performance against the environmental situation of their responsible towns and cities. Waste collection must be intensified. Without vendors in the streets, it should now be a shame for responsible officers in our town and city assemblies if the situation is not reversed. Meanwhile it is the hope of every Malawian that our cities and towns will once again look beautiful and that we will avoid communicable diseases.

It only takes us to acknowledge that we are the custodians of places that we live in and it is our responsibility to care for our environment.

On Street Vending

(Appeared in the Sunday Times)

Flushing out of street vendors – unfinished business

….. charcoal still being sold on the streets of Malawi

By Hastings Maloya

Finally the government has flushed vendors out of the streets in both urban and rural centers. This can be described as a success story, of course with respect to different people’s beliefs and understanding. But the fact remains that our towns and cities are slowly but steadily regaining the lost beauty and walking in the streets, is no longer a hassle.

Not long ago, our streets were full of people and activities, which resulted in lack of proper sanitation facilities and overcrowded conditions. This also posed a high risk of communicable diseases and caused additional pressure on management of waste. Our towns and cities were no longer a pleasant sight – yes they were full of waste. Cases of theft were numerous.

It is a changed situation now. Much as we are still looking forward to designated littering places and anticipating that refuse collection become order of the day, it is still a situation worth applause.

However, when the whole exercise was starting not many people believed it would succeed. Prophets of doom indicated that the government was starting a battle that it was ready to lose. The vendors themselves had indicated that come rain or sunshine, they wont move from the streets. The government used available legal instruments and finally everybody has acknowledged that street vending is illegal. So, no more street vending! This is government.

But now, wait a minute. Why is charcoal still being sold on the streets of Malawi? Is this not street vending?

Driving along the newly christened Robert Mugabe Highway, it is a terrible sight of the hundreds of charcoal bags that are seeing their way into the city. The state of affairs on the Zalewa road is not worth mentioning. It has been said enough. And along the Salima road the situation is the same. How about what seems to be a proper charcoal marketplace at the Machinjiri Turn–off on the Chileka road in Blantyre? Area 23 in Lilongwe. It is all over Malawi and it seems no-body cares. One wonders again if there has been a thought of the source for the charcoal.

But do we need to stress that charcoal production and sell is illegal in Malawi? As, it has been said before Malawi has viable legislation that lacks enforcement. Section 81 of Malawi’s Forest Act of 1987 reads: “No person shall make or sell charcoal from indigenous timber or tree except pursuant to a licence issued under this section.” And Malawians are yet to know whether any of the charcoal producers in Malawi has a licence and whether the licences are checked as is the case with driving licences by our traffic police.

And section 82 of the same Act reads “No person shall engage in commercial processing of any wood or forest produce without a permit. Again, Malawians need to be told whether any of the charcoal business people have permit to carry out their businesses. It is very unfortunate that illegal indigenous timber from forest reserves and customary areas are too common on our streets and the trend is going on without control.

The major reason for the worsening environmental damage in Malawi is therefore not the absence of legislation but laxity in the implementation and enforcement of policies, legislation and strategies by responsible Ministries and Departments.

In December 2005, a Coalition of Environmental NGOs in Malawi, cried through its press release that the country lost 2,501,571 ha. of both indigenous and plantation forests between 1972-1992 and much higher values after this period resulting in Malawi having a deforestation rate of 3.5%, the highest in the SADC Region.

The Coalition observed that between 1992 - 2005, charcoal production and trade was intensified in Malawi; where 140,000 ton/year of charcoal and about so many tons of firewood is was traded informally with Government deriving no revenue from this big trade.

“It requires no emphasis that enforcement and implementation of legislation, policies and regulations is primarily a responsibility of Government. There is need therefore, to enforce the Forestry Act and regulate charcoal production and selling. Courts should also be asked to impose heavy penalties on cases of encroachment, and illegal charcoal trade, as provided for in the law”, said the Coalition in the release.

While everybody agrees that street vending is illegal, why cant the government come in at this moment and save our trees by flushing charcoal sellers from the streets? We may lose an opportunity here. Actually production of charcoal in Malawi is far beyond demand and that is why we have piles and piles of charcoal on the streets. This is totally an illegal business.

Government MUST treat and view the environment and its associated natural resources and wildlife as economic goods; and come up with proper valuation of these assets including introduction of taxes, licenses and charges for the use. It would also be imperative to encourage farmers, the private sector and institutions of higher learning to take natural resource management as a business

Or should we suggest that all those that lost out on street vending should venture into charcoal business? Seems its acceptable.

…..ends

On Forest Fires - SADC EE

(Appeared in SADC EE News Flash Dec 2005)

Malawian Trust intensifies EE on forest fires
By Hastings Maloya

As we get to the festive season and getting into the New Year, environmentalists and concerned Malawians will remember the just ending year as the worst in relation to harmful bushfires that led to devastation of over 2000 hectares of pristine forests across the country. This included the damage to Malawi’s national tree - the Mulanje Cedar in the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve.

Fires, the worst seen in recent years, caused heavy damage on plants and animals in almost all protected natural forest reserves and plantations in Malawi. Among several causes, mostly the fires were caused by unsustainable means of resource utilisation like hunting where fire is used to drive animals from their hiding places. Honey harvesting has also been another cause when some harvesters use fire in their operations and carelessly leave flames that lead to uncontrolled fires. Other fires have been caused by misguided individuals whose intention is to cause damage and panic among people.

Only last year, we were excited that for the first time in many years, the Mulanje Mountain and its unique forest reserve was spared from the effects of devastating forest fires. Very few fires had occurred and we believed that this indicated peoples’ increased understanding of the importance of the reserve.

While we were about to start the success story of retaining lost biodiversity, the situation this year is not encouraging. The forest reserve, just as many parts of Malawi, has suffered serious damage.

It could be that many people have not been reached yet with messages though the continuous awareness campaigns or the targeted community was limited.

This is what has led to the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) to intensify environmental education programmes among school-going children around the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve, Malawi’s biggest and oldest reserve.

The Trust’s environmental education programme has been facilitating the formation and strengthening of environmental clubs in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions and coordinating out-of-class lessons in the reserve. Using a handbook “Why Forest Fires – or Do We Need Them? the programme has included teachers in the exercise. In participatory format, the school children and teachers are given an opportunity to evaluate causes and the effects of uncontrolled fires. The handbook was developed recently during an EE training programme at the SADC EE Centre in Howick and it has since proven a very powerful tool.

Serious awareness campaigns on the dangers of forest fires had mainly targeted on village-based communities. The focus now is on school-going children and out-of-school youths. It is anticipated that when the youths are made aware of the dangers of fire while in school, they will ably pass on the message to the community that they live in and the will to fight for their environment shall remain in them.

The youths, full of zeal and energy, have since set up monitoring programmes and will soon be trained in basic fire-fighting techniques ready to take part in putting of fire in case it starts.

Malawi, just as many countries in the world, is today facing a lot of environmental problems and challenges, which include water and air pollution, soil erosion, deforestation and loss of biological diversity. Fire has been noted, to a certain extent as being the main source and cause to these problems. This has also led to loss of some plant species that could not stand the heat caused by fires. This leads to environmental degradation where the links and relationships between natural resources and people are affected in one way or another.

Mulanje Mountain, central Africa's highest mountain, is home to rare species of trees and animals. The Mulanje cedar, Malawi's national tree, is found nowhere else in the world, making the mountain one of the country's famous tourist destinations. Mulanje Cedar was declared Malawi's national tree by the country's founding president Hastings Kamuzu Banda in 1984 but Mulanje Mountain has been a protected area since 1927, making it the country's oldest forest reserve.

On Charcoal

This article was published in the Sunday Times of - June 5, 2006

If only Charcoal was banned!

By Hastings Maloya

While we are all watching, our indigenous forests are steadily diminishing. The once beautiful hills and mountains are gradually becoming bare and our good land becoming unproductive due to continuous soil erosion. Siltation in our rivers is becoming an order of the day. Electricity power failures are no longer news.

Malawi is currently facing serious environmental problems with deforestation as the main challenge. It is sad that everyone accepts that the state of affairs is bad but ironically we are aware of the main cause to the situation that we are in. Charcoal production! It is estimated that 140,000 ton of charcoal are produced per year in Malawi.

It is very unfortunate that the presence of illegal indigenous timber from forest reserves and customary areas is too common on our streets and the development is going on without control. Malawi has allowed wanton cutting down of its trees by its own people in the name of livelihood survival for people. Another excuse has been lack of alternative source of energy. Malawians have been made to believe that there is no any other better source of fuel energy but charcoal. We have watched this trend for years and maybe we will wake up for an action when we get to the last tree!

In December 2005, a Coalition of Environmental NGOs in Malawi, cried through its press release that the country lost 2,501,571 ha. of both indigenous and plantation forests between 1972-1992 and much higher values after this period resulting in Malawi having a deforestation rate of 3.5%, the highest in the SADC Region.

In all circles there seem to be nothing happening to tackle the problem, if there has been any effort then it has been painfully very slow. Actually production of charcoal in Malawi is far beyond demand and that is why we have piles and piles of charcoal on the streets. To a certain extent those that are producing charcoal are doing it just for the sake of it, not that they have a ready market.

Driving along the newly christened Robert Mugabe Highway, from Mulanje to Blantyre it is a terrible sight of the hundreds of charcoal bags that are seeing their way into the city. The state of affairs on the Zalewa road is not worth mentioning. It has been said enough. And along the Salima road the situation is the same. How about what seems to be a proper charcoal marketplace at the Machinjiri Turn–off on the Chileka road in Blantyre? Area 23 in Lilongwe. It is all over Malawi and it seems no-body cares.

But by law, charcoal production and sell is illegal in Malawi as stipulated by Section 81 of Malawi’s Forest Act of 1987 which reads: “No person shall make or sell charcoal from indigenous timber or tree except pursuant to a licence issued under this section.” And charcoal producers in Malawi have no licences. Charcoal production in Malawi can only be legal when there is recognised sustainable forest with a management plan as a source of the charcoal.

It has been argued by some quarters that production of charcoal is a source of livelihood and that it should not be banned unless alternatives are found for the people. This is a very poor excuse. Why is it not accepted that all people involved in charcoal are doing an illegal business? And one wonders why there should be alternatives for law breakers. In actual sense, we can hardly found a charcoal producer whose livelihood has improved because of this type of destructive business.
Charcoal suppliers to town remain hanging about dirty through-out the year. Very few of them seem to have taken a shower for a week or so. As a country we should be ashamed of ourselves to clap hands on such poor fellars who are failing to make ends meet and keep on cheating them that they are surviving on charcoal – what type of survival? How many of them will come forward to show us children that are going to school, or some type of beautiful houses that have been built out the charcoal business?

Perhaps because it mainly affects marginalized and poor people, even politicians have taken advantage of the porous situation for political gains. We have heard of politicians shielding the charcoal business people simply to get votes during an election. Some politicians and big business people have actually been seen involved in this illegal trade and are in the forefront saying charcoal can not be banned unless alternative sources of livelihood are found. And yet the longer this problem is ignored, the worse it gets, putting all our futures at risk. It is a tall order to reverse the trend of tens of years, but it has to be done – and done now.

We used to have minibus toots on the streets of Malawi. We used to have street vendors in our towns and cities. They are no longer there. They were operating illegally and had to be shown the exit. And nobody proposed an alternative source of livelihood. What is so special with people that are destructing our environment? If indeed we love mother Malawi, there should be a total ban on charcoal. And this requires a radical approach.

Then there is a question of alternative source of energy. For who? The people that already have the alternative source of energy i.e. electricity are the ones that are buying a lot of charcoal. The literates are the ones in the fore front of the damage. New fuel saving stoves are coming on the market but how many people are buying them? Recently there has been an introduction of a locally made Rocket Stove that has already shown what wonders it can do in saving our forests but how many among the elites have gone for it?

People in the villages have traditional means of using fuel wood and do not talk of charcoal. This tells us that the excuse about alternative source of fuel wood is only a scapegoat in the process of making Malawi bare and unproductive.

Now, Malawi tomorrow joins the international community in commemorating the World Environment Day and this year's theme is Deserts and Desertification with a slogan -Don't Desert Drylands! This follows the designation by the United Nations General Assembly for the year 2006 as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. In keeping with tradition, United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) has chosen the theme for World Environment Day to coincide with the International Year in order to highlight this pressing environmental issue.

Desertification is about land degradation: the loss of the land’s biological productivity, caused by human-induced factors and has potentially devastating consequences in terms of social and economic costs. Malawi is in this situation at the moment.

Surely each one of us would want to know whether it is necessary for Malawi to participate in the commemoration. Time to check if as a nation we are worried that in anyway we are almost deserting our country.

Why not a total ban on charcoal and no excuses about alternatives!
It is said that forests precede civilization, and, deserts follow. It has been so since humanity first settled down from a nomadic life. Written history indicates that some 3,000 years ago Mesopotamia had wonderful cedar forests and excitement in cutting down the wood by its own people led it to becoming a desert today. History will give us a lot of examples but we do not need to go that far when our own Ndirande Mountain can give a good example.

The major reason for the worsening environmental damage in Malawi is therefore not the absence of legislation but laxity in the implementation and enforcement of policies, legislation and strategies by responsible Ministries and Departments

Info on Mt Mulanje

Get to know more about Mount MULANJE

by Hastings Maloya

Introduction

Mt. Mulanje is located 65 km east of Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial city. The view of Mt. Mulanje when driving from Blantyre is superb provided the weather is clear. Mulanje is a vast, isolated granite massif rising sharply and dramatically above the Phalombe Plain southeast of Blantyre. The massif covers an area of 650km2, and largely comprises a plateau of rolling grassland averaging around 2,000m in altitude. This plateau is incised by several thickly wooded ravines, while rising above it are 20 peaks that reach an altitude of over 2,500m. One of these, Sapitwa Peak, is at 3,002m the highest point in Central Africa.

Several different vegetation types cover Mulanje. The lower slopes of the massif, where they have not been planted with exotic pines and eucalyptus, are covered in closed-canopy woodland. The main vegetation type of the plateau is not dissimilar in appearance to the alpine moorland found on East Africa’s larger mountains: a combination of heathers, heaths and grasses. There are supporting a wide array of wild flowers, including various helichrysums, irises, lobelias and aloes, a large number of which are endemic to the mountain.

Evergreen woodland and forest is largely restricted to ravines and watercourses. The most notable forest tree on Mulanje is the endemic Mulanje cedar (Widdringtonia whytei), a magnificent timber tree which can reach a height of over 40m. Mulanje’s cedars have been depleted in the last century due to timber felling, but several impressive stands remain, the most accessible of which lies in the saddle southeast of the Chambe Basin and includes many trees that are thought to be over 300 years old.

In the open highlands, the only mammal species seen with any regularity are klipspringer, rock hyrax, red rock hare and vole. In the woodlands of the lower slopes and in forested areas, there is a good chance of seeing vervet and samango monkeys. Red duiker, bushbuck, leopard, bushpig and porcupine are also present in wooded habitats.

With easy access from Blantyre, well-organised and inexpensive facilities, and some of the most dramatic scenery in the country, Mulanje is Malawi’s premier hiking and rock-climbing destination, popular with tourists and expatriates alike. There are several routes from the base to the plateau, but the only ones that are used with much regularity are the Skyline Path to the Chambe Basin and the Lichenya Path to the Lichenya Plateau. Both of these routes start at Likhubula Forestry Station, which lies at the eastern base of the mountain about 10km from Mulanje Town.

In addition to there being inexpensive accommodation at Likhubula Forestry Station, there are nine huts on the plateau, connected to each other by well-marked trails ranging from three to six hours’ walking duration. With 20 peaks to explore, Mulanje has enough walking and climbing potential to keep anybody busy for at least a month

Guides and porters

We are very proud that the guides and porters of Mulanje are very organised. At each entrée point to the go up Mt. Mulanje is a guides and porters branch present. The guides have knowledge about the area and some are even specialist in birds and wildlife.

The porters work on a rotation schedule. Therefore is it very important that you collect your porters from the entrance points, especially in Likhubula. The rotation schedule was designed as a countermeasure against hassling from not registered guides and porters. Please take notice of this and use only guides and porters from the designated offices.

Safety

It is important to bear in mind that rescue services are virtually non-existent. If you decide to climb a peak do sign the hut destination book and tell the watchmen, guide, porter of your plans. Remember that days often change on Mulanje from gorgeous clear mornings to misty, cloudy weather when route finding conditions become very different. Dry rocks quickly become very slippery. Flash floods and dangerous river crossings feature the rainy season. This does not mean you cannot hike Mt. Mulanje. When you do take precaution. I advise to take at least one guide or porter with you. Guides and porters all have had medic first aid training.

Interesting sights around the base of Mt. Mulanje

There is a road along the whole of the base of Mt. Mulanje. All the entrance points have their own interesting points to see, if a group does not want to hike the mountain or has half a day to a day left. These include pools near Likhubula and Lujeri, a hydro system near Lujeri, an old graveyard site near Fort Lister, real African villages near all entrance points and many more.

InfoMulanje

InfoMulanje is our local information office. Here you can make bookings for all accommodations and restaurants around Mt. Mulanje. Furthermore they organise tea-tours in one of the nearby tea-estates, which gives you more inside in the tea making process. It even includes a factory visit!

InfoMulanje can give you on the spot information about day trips to other interesting sights around the base of Mt. Mulanje.

InfoMulanje is located in Mulanje Chitakale, where the main Trading centre is and the turnoff to Likhubula. The Turnoff is easily recognisable by Pizzeria Bassilica. On top of the pizzeria is the InfoMulanje office.

Contact details:
InfoMulanje
Manager: Mss. Emmie Suliwa
Tel: (+265) 01 466 466
PO Box 200, Mulanje
Email: infomulanje@mountmulanje.org.mw or infomulanje@sdnp.org.mw

On Aids

(Sunday Times Dec 3, 2006)

Fighting HIV/Aids pandemic

It’s not a question of going public about one’s sero status.

by Hastings Maloya

Sex or sexual intercourse is a funny way of communication. It could be possible that someone in Nsanje has had an indirect sexual contact with someone in Mzuzu simply because one of them might have had sex with another person who, in the course of travel or life exploits, also had sex with another and eventually the latter had sex with the first one. In our communities, we might have had some sort of indirect sexual intercourse even with our closest friends. Funny it could sound but it is real.

The only good thing about this situation is that most of us do not know, neither do we probe as to who might have slept with who nor how we would personally find ourselves in line of the communicated persons. This silence and lack of probing is what has kept us all along. Otherwise if indeed we were to seriously go into the circus of probing or wanting to know, some of us could be very disappointed to note that we have sexually been associated with the people that we have all along thought we have avoided! This, therefore poses as the biggest challenge in the fight against HIV/Aids.

On Friday Malawi joined the international community in commemorating the World Aids Day under the theme stop Aids – keep the promise. Only if indeed we keep the promise, our fight against HIV/Aids will be very difficult to win.

Now this brings me to the subject of discussion today. The Aids pandemic has reached a crisis level and people are being encouraged to go for voluntary HIV testing so that they can make informed choices and be sure of looking after themselves. The question is, will it help if people that have been diagnosed with HIV or those that have Aids come out open to declare their sero status?

I think no.

History tells us that there have been epidemics and catastrophes associated with human development since time in memorial. Most of the catastrophes and calamities that human generations have faced have been natural and in most cases have been controlled or dealt with naturally, nevertheless recognition has gone to some dedicated individuals and institutions that have put in efforts and resources to help eliminate such tricky situations.

Disease has been one of the main problems that has troubled human development and continues to be the biggest challenge to date despite all efforts aimed at dealing away with it. Almost each generation has had its share of a particular troubling disease and maybe handed over to the next generation. Some of the diseases have proven to be a crisis and have cost lives of so many people. This is why examples of such diseases remain in our history books. However, life still goes on. Nature, sometimes, cannot easily be understood.

We are currently in the midst of yet another crisis. HIV/Aids is also slowly going into the history annals among the worst pandemics that have befallen man. Worse still, this crisis is in our midst at the time when we are struggling with other continually death-causing diseases like malaria, cholera and tuberculosis. But unlike the other diseases, which of course have caused a lot of deaths, the biggest challenge associated with HIV/Aids is the fact that there is no known cure and treatment.

Records indicate that the first case of HIV/AIDS in Malawi was discovered in 1985 and to date it is said that over 365,000 Malawians have died of the disease. The Joint UN Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) puts the adult infection rate in Malawi at 16%. Other statistics indicate that Malawi has more than one million people estimated to be living with HIV, the virus that causes Aids. It is also scaring to accept reports that Malawi’s HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is almost twice the rate in sub-Saharan Africa. However, we have to accept these painful realities. HIV/AIDS, which is spread primarily through heterosexual sex, is now the leading cause of death in Malawi among people of ages 20-49.

According to available data, women account for more than half of adults estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS in Malawi. In 2003, over 83,000 children in Malawi were estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS and there were an estimated 500,000 Aids orphans. It is also said that HIV prevalence rates are almost twice as high in urban areas of Malawi compared to rural areas. The government acknowledges the daunting challenges that its support has been grossly inadequate and the condition of orphans is made worse by extreme poverty and the erosion of extended families.

The escalating numbers of orphans in the country as a result of HIV/Aids cannot be over emphasized. Malawi has, however, been praised for its humane and exemplary treatment of orphans despite the meagre resources.

But, wait a minute. To a certain extent, the Aids pandemic is not news. It is not news in the sense that today, it would be a very small percentage of Malawians that can stand up to claim that they have never heard anything about HIV/Aids. Over the past twenty years we have had numerous and series of campaigns, workshops and activities that have not only raised awareness and understanding but have also called for action among people.

Awareness initiatives have been done through different avenues including both the electronic and print the media, music, drama, and sports, religious and social gatherings. Controversies have also been noted in the cause of message delivery with different thoughts and agendas put forward. For example disagreements and counter arguments on whether we should promote the use of condoms among religious faithful have helped the cause of raising awareness as such controversies only strengthen debates among people thereby helping in disseminating messages among masses.

Studies have found that general awareness of HIV/AIDS in Malawi is very high. The only unfortunate thing is that statistics that come out of bodies and institutions trusted to handle issues of HIV/Aids do not give any hope. It shows that despite numerous messages and campaigns, there is little progress as the prevalence rate still escalates and deaths related to HIV/Aids are still high. No hope in sight.

The call for people to go for voluntary HIV testing and counseling is meant for us to be aware of our sero status and make an informed decision on how one would look after oneself and how to avoid infecting others in the spirit of keeping the promise. Because of the way the earlier messages about Aids were delivered, it is not easy for one to be told and accept his/her status. This is why the testing is also associated with counseling. In other words the only person that has been tested and counseled will ably accept the situation and indeed make an informed decision.

It is not easy for someone who would only know of the possibility of an infection through the assumption after realizing that a partner or an acquaintance has been diagnosed positive. It has always been said that fear for death is more painful than death itself. The moment people shall come out open about their sero status. We should accept that we shall create an environment of fear and disbelief. It will not help but rather create another catastrophe. Actually most people will not be encouraged to go for testing as they will have already made concluding assumptions following the disclosure by other people, especially if their status in society matter.

For those that made the wise decision to go for testing and are aware of their status surely, with good counseling, can indeed make wise decision about their lives. But please lets not put others in panic through wild assumptions. No need to announce during funerals – it wont help in the fight rather it will create fear and stigma. We cannot develop!

* Hastings Maloya works for Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust but is writing in his personal capacity