Water challenges choke afforestation efforts in Salima district in Malawi

Communities in Salima district have bemoaned water challenge as a major setback in the afforestation project which Kindle Orphan and Outreach is implementing in the area.

During a Civil Society Organizations Joint Monitoring Tour organized by Kindles, Group Village Head Man Vunguti said he is glad of having a woodlot in his area as they thought it was a joke when it was beginning but it has brought fruits including good air, shelter and source of income.

He further asked relevant authorities to drill a borehole nearby as the only borehole they rely on is a school one at Makande Primary School.

“We are glad that Kindle support us in this afforestation project, but we are asking the government and stakeholders to drill a borehole near our woodlot to help us in irrigating the trees since we access thee water a the nearest school borehole,” said Group Village Headman Vunguti.

On his Part, Village Head Man Village headman Elias concurred with Vunguti’s remarks, saying his community needs a borehole to water a vast woodlot they have since they rely on Lilongwe River waters to irrigate the trees which are at a distance.

“Here at Elias Village Traditional Authority Salima has water problems and if the government gives us a borehole, our problem can end,” he said.

However, Kindle Orphan and Outreach organization Executive Director Joseph Kandiyesa said his organization is aware of the problem and it is engaging with various stakeholders to address it.

“This type of soil has a deep water table hence it needs a heavy machine to drill a borehole and it’s costly, However, we fundraise and engage members of parliament and others to address it," said Kandiyesa.

Commenting on the matter, the Director of Planning and Services in Salima District said the District Council will consider it by meeting relevant stakeholders and scrutinize the challenge in their best interest.

“We need to jointly scrutinise the challenges and see how best we government and stakeholders can address them,” he said.

Kindle Afforestation Project has managed to plant about 120,000 Cacius trees at plots amounting to 17 hectares with a 97 per cent survival rate in Salima District.

Kindle Joint Monitoring Project was attended by Government officials, World Vision and others.