STIFF PENALTY - Court metes stiffer sentence on forestry officer in Dedza
By enacting amendments on the Forestry Act, the Malawian government has acknowledged that forest crimes are serious offences, hence this will act as a deterrent to others observe experts
LILONGWE, Malawi (Planet Defence) - Lilongwe Principal Resident Magistrate has meted sentence of two years imprisonment with hard labour or an option for a fine of MK2.5million on Andrew Mbughe, Forestry Assistant who served for four years at Dedza Mountain Plantation.
The sentence follows counts of abuse of office by the former Forestry Department employee and destroying of forestry products in Dedza Mountain forest reserve incontravention of the revised Forestry Act of 2019.
The court proceeded to deliver its judgement whereby it found the accused guilty on two counts of abuse of office contrary to Section 95 (2) of the Penal Code.
Destroying Forestry produce from a protected area Contrary to section 46 (a) as read with Section 64(b) as amended by Forestry Amendment Act No. 7 of 2020 and convicted him. The state submitted oral submissions on sentence and the convict submitted his mitigations.
According to Regional Prosecutor Inspector, Central West Region, Assistant Supritendent of Police, Saddrey Sambo these counts were registered under court case number 374/23.
“This means the accused will serve a jail term of 5 years, if he fails to pay the stipulated fine. If he pays then he will serve two years,” Saddrey said in an interview.
In his reaction, Ramzy Kenan, Chief of Party of USAID and UKaid co-funded Modern Cooking for Healthy Forests reacted on Hard Talk Forests, Mountain and Wildlife, “The need to tackle systemic, institutional corruption is ever present.”
Dorothy Tembo Nhlema, Director of Programmes at Lilongwe Wildlife Trust was happy that as a country we have started being serious with every offender in the sector.
“We were all worried, when previously staff were only transferred from one area to another after committing such offence. This is one of the first of its kind and this will send a strong message out there and become a big deterrent in forestry related crimes. Let’s all take responsibility in conserving the meagre natural resources to ensure future generations can thrive and survive,” explained Nhlema in her reaction.
Clement Chilima, retired Director of Forestry reacted, this is good to hear. “It should send a strong warning as indeed, a lot of the deforestation problems that we face are linked to some corrupt forestry personnel.”
According to Forestry Department forests play a critical role in sustaining the health and prosperity of our nation – indeed our very survival. We rely on them for our energy and water, clean air and productive soils, and our resilience to natural disasters and climate change.
The Forestry Amendment Act 2019 summary of provisions estimate Malawi has lost over half of its forest cover in just 40 years.
By enacting the Amendment, Government acknowledged the terrifying trajectory of the impending nature crisis, but also the evolving nature of forest and wildlife crime.