Minister of Water and Sanitation, Abida Mia has urged people in the country to join hands in restoring degraded land to mitigate disasters that come as a result of climate change.
Mia said this on Friday in the area of Traditional Authority Kunthembwe in Blantyre during the National Water Resources Authority’s (NWRA) official handover ceremony of K22,500,000 cheque to 17 Sub-Catchment Management Committees (CMCs) established under the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP).
She said that there is need for collaboration among stakeholders in ensuring that degraded land is restored saying NWRA has already shown commitment to the course by supporting the CMCs.
“NWRA shows commitment to restoring the degraded land, the money which they have given to the CMCs is going to empower them in their work and ensure the success of the project.
“Am impressed as CMCs are managing their areas well. I therefore urge all the CMCs that have received the funds to use them for their intended purpose,” she said.
In his remarks, Board Chairperson for NWRA, James Mambulu said the money which has gone to 17 sub-catchments from Blantyre, Neno, Ntcheu, Zomba, and Machinga will be used by the committees to look after the environment in terms of trees they have planted and ensuring that catchments are protected from soil erosion.
He added that they are also forming other committees in other catchments like Linthipe, Bua, Dwangwa, and Rukuru to support them.
Speaking on behalf of the CMCs, Steve Donda from Neno district said the money will help in ending some of the challenges like resources as CMCs have big areas to look after but had however minimal funding from MWASIP.
He said with what they had received they will be able to fully undertake various agriculture conservation and forestry activities.
