BWB Water Quality Technician Precious Kuzani told Zodiak Online on Friday that 60 percent of the dam has been affected, blaming it on deforestation.

He disclosed the development when various partner organizations under Coordination Union for the Rehabilitation of the Environment (CURE) planted 1500 trees at Mudi dam catchment area.

“The pumping of water has always been affected because Mudi dam is subjected to heavy siltation due to soil erosion.

“We are currently at 40 percent as 60 percent of the dam has been affected,” explained Kuzani.

Kuzani was, however, quick to say the situation is improving following BWB’s reforestation program saying the situation is slowly being lessened.

He further expressed gratitude to CURE, an umbrella body for environmental organizations for donating 1, 500 tree seedlings which they have planted today.

“Let me express gratitude to the organizations for the initiative. They have raised the bar. This is not the first-time partners in environmental conservation have planted the trees,” said Kuzani. 

Malawi Environmental Endowment Trust Board of Trustees Chairperson Daulos Mauambeta, has tipped the citizenry to take care of existing trees.

“Trees are like babies when you plant. You should take care of them, the best is not planting, the best is to take care of those existing in the environment.

He noted that the country is moving in the right direction in reforestation.

“We are moving in the right direction as a country. Some trees we planted in the past are doing well, citing a big forest which is very close to BWB offices. We asked BWB to give us a piece of land in 1994 where we planted trees.

“We only planted about 10 percent of the trees at Mudi, the rest are what we call natural regeneration; trees growing naturally. Just take care of them, it is possible and it can be done,” explained Mauambeta.

Concerned Youth Organization representative, Caroline Chitenje, noted that a lot more needs to be done saying the country is not there yet.

“I am not impressed because many are still cutting down trees for charcoal and firewood. It is important to replace those that have been cut because water and air come from the trees,” said Caroline.

She further appealed to the youths to take part in conserving the environment.

“As the youths, we are the future, the old people will be gone, we will be left here so we will be the ones to suffer if we do not conserve the forests.”

The event was organized by CURE with partner organizations namely Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM), Center for Environmental Policy and Advocacy (CEPA), Concerned Youth Organization and Churches Action in Relief and Development.

Malawi Environment Endowment Trust (MEET) sponsored the event.