African Parks raises concerns over government taxes on donor funding

Malawi: African Parks raised concerns over the government's collection of taxes on donor money used to purchase fencing wire and vehicles at a stakeholders’ meeting in Salima on January 10, 2023, writes Tionge Hara.

Samuel Kamoto, the African Parks Country's Director, stated that this threatens their work, and donors have threatened to withhold funding.

Another issue highlighted by Kamoto was the growing lion population in Majete and Liwonde, which has led African Parks to request permission to use contraceptives to control their numbers.

They have also requested that they be able to translocate them to other safe parks, but such options require investments, including predator-proof fences.

Majete registered the highest revenue, around $600,000, Kamoto added. He also confirmed that 18 wild dogs had been poisoned in Liwonde, a major setback for their conservation.

Journalist Mathews Malata speaks to Kamoto on the issue.

Brighton Kumchedwa, from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, stated that contraception is not an option at this time and that translocating the lions to other parks is an opportunity to restock other protected areas that had been run down.

He also dismissed concerns about escalating human-wildlife conflict.