Tourism Minister optimistic Shire Valley Transformation Programme will boost tourism

Malawi: Michael Usi, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Wildlife, paid a visit to the African Parks Majete wildlife game reserve in Chikwawa, where the Shire Valley Transformation Programme (SVTP) is being implemented on Friday, September 16, 2022.

The minister stated that the SVTP will boost the tourism industry because it will be a tourist attraction, attracting foreign currency and boosting the Malawian economy.

He toured the intake and was briefed on various works and activities that are currently underway, such as the construction of the main canal, which will change the face of Shire Valley.

In an interview with AfricaBrief, Usi stated that the people of the Shire Valley will benefit from improved water security and agricultural productivity, particularly those living near the protected area of African Park's Majete Wildlife Game Reserve, and that cases of poaching at Majete will eventually be reduced because many of the people are involved in such crimes as pangolin trafficking.

SVTP is improving livelihoods in the Shire Valley through various interventions, particularly in the communities where they work, because alternative livelihoods are critical to the conservation of natural resources such as the African park Majete Wildlife Game Reserve.