APM VOWS TO FIGHT WILDLIFE CRIME

Published in The Nation newspaper on 4^th August 2015

Written by Jacob Nankhonya

President Peter Mutharika has vowed to fight against any person found perpetrating actions that contradict with conservation of wildlife and natural resources in Malawi.

Speaking during the launch of the Malawi Parliamentary Conservation Caucus in Lilongwe yesterday, the President said his commitment will help stop and reverse the current situation of wildlife and natural resources destruction.

Said Mutharika: “There is increasing poaching and illegal trafficking of our rare species of fauna and flora. We have endangered our national pride and committed crimes against our own existence.

“As a leader of this country, a patriotic African, and a citizen of humankind, I am determined to stop and reverse wanton destruction of our natural resources.”

Mutharika hailed the formation of the caucus as testimony to government’s political will in fighting wildlife crimes and improving things in the wildlife and natural resources sector.

In her remarks, Susan Lylis, vice-president for International Conservation Caucus Foundation, hailed government for its commitment to end wildlife and natural resources crimes which, she said,, according to history, is one of the key factors of success in conservation of natural resources.

Speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya, who is the head of the caucus, said the body has been formed to assist government in the conservation of environment and wildlife.

The local caucus s expected to join a network of other stakeholders locally and internationally such as International Conservation Caucus in the US Congress, the Parliamentary Conservation Caucus – Kenya Chapter, the Zambian Parliamentary Conservation Caucus, the Namibian Conservation Parliamentary Caucus, the Tanzania Parliamentary Friends of the Environment Caucus and the Colombian Congressional Conservation Caucus.