A Green Reflection on Recent Policy Change in Malawi

It does not take one to be an established observer to notice that, since President Joyce Banda came into power last April following the demise of the former president Late Bingu Wa Mutharika, she has so far been primarily driving a change agenda. She has placed a platform in front of her onto which disgruntled sectors of society place issued for review. Most of (if not all of) these issues placed on this platform to be operated on by Her Excellency came to be because of the deaf ear, the Mutharika regime paid to pleading whispers of opposition. Indeed, there is a large pile on this platform for Her Excellency to clear.  

However, having observed that most of the issues placed on this platform have been handled to the expectation of their advocates by Her Excellency, it was thought that it might not be too late to shove one more issue from the green community. Just like many others, well wishers of nature raised a number of concerns with the previous government’s planned policy and initiatives, which, despite the genuine reservations, went ahead to be rolled out.  The smiles our disgruntled fellows wear when their advocated issues and concerns are addressed give us power to put our luggage on the platform awaiting nothing but a decision worth smiling at.

To begin with, there were controversial initiatives to examine the prospect of coal mining in the protected areas of Lengwe and Majete National Park and Wildlife Reserve respectively. Another storm arose with the announced plans (to prospect and eventually drill) oil in Lake Malawi. As expected, strong reservations were expressed by the environmental Civil Society Organisations and green thinking citizens. The government shamelessly defended the initiatives saying the proposed coal project would have little effect on biodiversity through the employment of ‘systematic’ exploration. This came shortly after government announced plans to construct a giant coal powered thermal power generation plant to help arrest power shortages. On oil explorations in Lake Malawi, the then responsible minister, Goodall Gondwe, told the nation that there is nothing to worry about because the whole thing is being (and will be) handled by experts apparently, in reference to the British Petroleum company, Surestream, which we hear was dubiously handed over permission to conduct the prospect study. However, not many including government’s own Tourism Ministry became convinced. But as expected, the plans got endorsed for commencement. 

Another bone of contention was the wood harvesting in Chikangawa plantation. There has been a general outcry in the way the forest is being harvested. Although most trees in the plantation are at maturity stage, a systematic and sustainable approach in its harvesting is desired so that the plateau is not abandoned bare (though most parts are already in this state)

The current government’s creation of the ministry of Environment and climate change really shows that it is repositioning itself to fight environmental related problems more frontally. Addressing issues of environment are a matter of MUST. As a nation we cannot develop if the state of environmental is in a state of dilapidation.   We also have national and international obligations. We are party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), the Kyoto protocol, and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to mention but a few. We developed our own National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPS) 2006 and other Environmental protection policies. This clearly outlines the commitment we have to safeguard biodiversity and nature in general. Unfortunately, the proposed projects, to be frank, are in categorical contrast to the dream reflected in the documents above. If we want to open a mine in Lengwe and Majete, what is the essence of keeping wildlife in there? The proposed thermal plant will only help to raise our meagre carbon emission from burning of coal at a time when we need to be heavily investing in low carbon technologies.

The prospect of oil drilling in our magnificent lake has far reaching repercussions. We have heard, read and seen how the coast in the oil-rich Niger Delta in Nigeria has become toxic to nature and biodiversity leaving the population which highly depended on aquatic life starving abandoned as the revenue form oil proceeds end in the pockets of politicians. It took a military uprising before government put in place visible policies in the oil sector benefitting Niger Delta-adjacent communities.

Now with the suspension on the American Millennium Challenge Fund assistance to Malawi lifted, we expect a halt to any plans to mine coal in Majete and Lengwe let alone its exploration for when large deposits are identified, with our current economic woes; we are likely to fall to the temptation. It will be like starving while food is in the vicinity of our very lips. The same be done to oil prospecting on Lake Malawi. The fish we get in our lake make up the most protein uptake for the Malawian population. Unless we suspend the signatures we appended to the CBD and other international and local conventions safeguarding nature, we are unveiling our own folly in broad day light.