Police and Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) say they will continue engaging communities on issues of environmental conservation.
The two made the resolution on Monday, May 31, 2021 when Commisioner of Police for South East Region, Chikondi Chingadza held a meeting with MMCT management.
In her remarks, Commisioner Chingadza said it is the duty of police to ensure that natural resources are protected, saying community engagement was therefore important.
“Police also protects the environment by ensuring that available laws are properly enforced. In view of this, police and MMCT are partners as the goal is the same,” Chingadza said.
On this note, the Commisioner thanked MMCT management for allowing her to visit them as part of her familirisation to stakeholders in the region. She reiterated her plea for partners to help the region, saying currently the office lacks a lot of things including furniture and other office equipment.
On his part, MMCT’s Executive Director, Carl Bruessow concurred with the Commisioner on the need for cooperation between the two offices. Bruessow observed that currently illegal harvesting of resources on Mulanje Mountain continues and this can only be dealt with by working together.
“We plan to help the vunerable with ways of making them independent through some income generating activities as one way of mitigating the problem. Illegal access to resources up the mountain continues and this is worrisome,” he said.
