BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Blantyre city deputy Mayor,Councillor Joseph Makwinja has sighted rapid urbanization as one of the factors that is leading to high deforestation rate in the city.
Makwinja said the situation has made the city prone to experience some severe effects of climate change that come due to deforestation.
He was speaking when he presided over a tree planting exercise for Blantyre city south constituency at Sochi hill mountain over the weekend which was organised by parliamentarian for the area Noel Lipipa.
The Deputy Mayor added that unlike in the past when the city had a sizable population,people in the city have now encroached in areas around mountains where they are now living and cultivating.
He sighted as an example areas along Sochi hill mountain and Bangwe mountain which has almost been made bear due to deforestation, a development which he said is compromising the city’s outlook.
“Blantyre used to be one of the beautiful cities not only in Malawi but even in the entire southern Africa. Such was the case as the city is surrounded by mountains such as Sochi hill,Ndirande,Chigumura and Mpingwe which used to be surrounded by green vegetative cover. It is sad that such is no longer the case”.
He then disclosed that the city intends to embark in a wide re- afforastration exercise in these areas.
On his part parliamentarian for the area Noel Lipipa said he decided to organise a tree planting exercise for the constituency for people in his area to emulate his example in conserving the environment.
He added that he intends to plant over 12 million tree seedlings in his area this rainfall season.
President Lazarus Chakwera opened this year’s national forestry season in December to run for four months and a total of six million trees are expected to be planted.
