CHARCOAL BURNERS THREATEN FORESTRY OFFICERS WITH WITCHCRAFT
By OLIVER SAMBOKO CHARCOAL burners have invaded Mutolang'anga Forest Reserve on the Siavonga/Lusaka highway and have turned the entire area into a desert.
And charcoal burners have threatened to bewitch Siavonga Forestry officers if they continue impounding their charcoal which they said was their only source of income and livelihood.
The Forestry Department working with their colleagues from the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and State Police have intensified patrols around the district to stop mass cutting of trees by charcoal burners.
Two weeks ago, the department arrested seven people in connection with cutting of small trees in Bendele area, a 30-tonne truck loaded with poles was also impounded during the operation and has since been forfeited to the State. A check by Daily Nation in areas such as Kariba Store in Chief Simaamba, Kawila and other places along Siavonga road found trucks loading bags of charcoal for transportation to Lusaka and the Copperbelt for sale.
And one teacher spoken to at Lusitu Secondary School who requested anonymity said Government should act now to preserve the few remaining trees before the area completely turns into a desert.
“I fear for the next generation. Trees will be no more... and some people in Government will start abusing public resources through tree planting projects and yet trees are crying every day for help and protection, no one is hearing them," said the teacher He also said that many school going children had also been exposed to charcoal burning by their parents.
He said the Forestry Department and the local authority should first of all educate the community on the dangers of cutting down trees indiscriminately.
Meanwhile, charcoal burners have warned that they will turn to witchcraft to teach Forestry officers at Siavonga office a life lesson for confiscating and impounding their hard earned bags of charcoal.
The burners said since the time a named female officer arrived in the district, she has been causing a lot of problems for them.