Tag Archives: Viphya plantation concession agreement

Development, Environment

Malawi Parliamentary Conservation Caucus pledges to revive Viphya plantation concession agreement

Maravi Post Reporter
MPCC Chairperson Welani Chilenga

By Donata Mpochela

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Parliamentary Conservation Caucus (MPCC) has asked the Ministry of Natural Resources, Mining, and Energy to revive the conditions of Viphya Plantation concession agreement on forest management agreement between the government of the republic of Malawi through Reformed Timber Millers Union (RTMU) that both the forest and community should benefit from it.

During the meeting which was held in Lilongwe at the Parliament made MPCC to express its concerns over the review of the conditions that are stipulated in the new concession agreements Raiply Malawi saying the agreement is not good for the management of Viphya Plantation.

MPCC Chairperson Welani Chilenga said the Timber Millers Union (RTMU) is acceptable but the agreement with Raiply needs to be revived.

“The RTMU agreement is acceptable but the agreement with Raiply says third parties that has allowed the third party to plunder the resources of the forest (trees) is not good because will affect the Raiply Plantations which may among things lead to joblessness and also destroy the forest as a result, this will be the end of Chikangawa because this a short period protection,” Chilenga said.

Chilenga said due to all these problems, they ask the Ministry to re-draft the third party clause.

“The Ministry was supposed to engage the committee in the concessions agreements so that they can be aware of it but we hear the Ministry signed the agreement without our approach, which is very bad,” Chilenga said.

According to the RTMU concession, Government says it should be a 50-50 protection to allow industrial plantations to ensure sustainability supply of forest products the benefit of the nation because without doing so, it is going to scare away investors.

Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy, and Mining’ Secretary, Patrick Matanda said they included the third party because they wanted the community to have access or benefit from the wood or plantations.

“As per advised during the agreement, will be a regulated way of people getting into the forest to collect wood so that the third party (community) should not just get into the forest without proper procedures which the ministry thinks the ministry will preserve the forest.

“As of now, looking at what we have been told will go and look for the proper right way that will help the nation benefit from the resources,” Matanda said.