We are sad to be writing this update as Malawi currently is in a state of emergency, with severe flooding brought on by storm Ana which arrived in Malawi on Monday 24th January, bringing torrential rains and heavy winds, destroying many houses and flooding vast areas of land. Many people are displaced, dead and missing. Although marked as a moderate storm, the devastation in Malawi has been more than was experienced by the Cyclone Idai in 2019. They are presently facing catastrophic disaster due to climate change, large-scale deforestation over the last few years, massive amounts of plastic waste, lack of reforestation in watershed areas and risky, poorly designed infrastructure projects – precisely what we are afraid of.
The Shire River has now breached the Kapachira Dam wall, completed in 2014, and forced a new path for the first time in known history, bypassing the famous Kapachira Falls and damaging part of the construction works of the Shire River Transformation Programme which was taking place right there, near the breach. This could have major consequences as the Kapachira Falls is the natural barrier preventing alien fish from entering the upper Shire and Lake Malawi. Lake Malawi’s rich ecological diversity and species endemism for which it is famous is at risk. As this disaster unfolds, the desecration of the forest in the Lake Malawi National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, has recommenced.
Last week the workers of PLEM Construction returned to the mountain, chopping trees and marking rocks. When questioned, they said that they have been told to proceed with preparing the road. There are no National Parks representatives with them to ensure that they adhere to National Park rules. None of the stakeholders have been informed of anything to do with this project since the public hearing re the ESIA, where all parties expressed their deep concerns of this project taking place at this location. Letters to MEPA were sent by archeologists, environmentalists, seismologists, engineers, ichthyologists, all experts in their field, explaining why this site is not suitable for this project.
Yesterday an article was posted in the Nation newspaper in the business news section; “SRWB resumes works on Mangochi water project” informing the public that MEPA has approved the project to continue at its proposed site. No links are to be found online. No actual written instruction or approval from MEPA or Government of Malawi, or approved ESIA, has been seen or reviewed by any of the stakeholders.
In the time since our last update, stakeholders have visited the site and walked the proposed route for the road, following the painted rocks, chopped trees and bits of tattered plastic that mark the route through some of the last remaining pristine Miombo woodland in Southern Malawi. Despite the obvious massive environmental degradation and consequences thereof, it is immediately evident to anyone that building a road here is an enormous engineering challenge. It beggars belief that one would think of it, especially as there are other alternatives nearby, some already have roads to the site! This proposed route goes through two deep ravines, three boulder fields, some as large as a house, and hundreds of mature Bragestigia woodland trees. No designs for the access road have been provided, and in fact we have been informed that at present they are still plotting the route and calculating the cost of the access road, estimates are in the billions of kwacha. If the idea is to bring potable water, as soon as possible, as cheap as possible then this is definitely not it! Alternative sites have been identified, and shown to be more cost and time effective, and much less of a challenge.
There is no logical reason. Some have suggested that there could be mineral wealth that could be obtained at this site as the excuse for making the road here. This has happened before in projects in Malawi, or could it be the trees? Yes, they would be cutting a lot of trees, but they are not Mahogany or Mopani, so not valuable as a timber, or that could definitely be a reason; MEPA recently fined Roads Authority for a project in Lilongwe that saw over 1000 mature mahogany trees felled before approval of the ESIA. It was promising to see MEPA enforcing the law, but too late for the trees, and who knows where the wood has gone.
It has also been suggested that the aim is to make this project as expensive as possible, so as to ensure high loans in the future. Bigger loans for bigger benefits.
When walking the route, it was scary to note how many boulders are teetering on the edge of the mountain, and one can be sure that blasting of any kind done here can potentially have disastrous consequences. In the past few months two rock falls have been noted on the mountain. A strong earth tremor was felt this month, which resulted in many cracks in the buildings. One shudders to think what effect that would have had on a reservoir filled with 4000 tons of water. The company who is meant to build it are the same people who are currently being held to account for ‘substandard works’ building a dam in Nkhata Bay.
See link: https://www.nyasatimes.com/minister-lowe-cautions-plem-construction-limited-over-sustandard-works/
One wonders if The Kuwait Fund for Arab Development, and also the European Investment Bank, “the funders”, and their regulators, realize that they are taking great risks to their reputation, and global standing, by supporting and irresponsibly funding damaging projects such as these with their enormous long term loans.
At the proposed reservoir site, it was disturbing to see the famous archeological site of the chief’s grave, which had been crudely half filled in, the headstones scattered around. Nearby the pits that were dug to ascertain any archeological evidence were no more than 20 centimeters deep, and there too nobody bothered to fill them back in. It was interesting to note that the size of the trees and the flattened area at the top of the saddle clearly pointed out to the possibility of this being a site of an ancient settlement. It would have been a perfect location as both bays can easily be viewed, with large boulder fields protecting it. Just a short investigation of the area led us to find evidence of manmade fortifications in those boulders, and one can only imagine what rich history lies there yet to be discovered, and is in danger of being desecrated.
It is currently the National Forestry Season in Malawi, where the Ministry of Forestry and Natural resources has asked everyone in the country to ‘plant trees and to carry out forestry activities that will enhance the growth and survival of existing trees and natural regeneration’ The objective of National Forestry Seasons is to ‘build a responsible citizenry that cares for trees and forests for the sustenance of present and future’. This, while half of Malawi floods, as the last piece of the most dense, pristine, untouched forest on the Southern Lakeshore is being hacked into, in a National Park, an UNESCO world Heritage site. What use are these public statements if they are not willing to stand by them?
Malawi was in the international news last year with regards to climate change and the extremely low levels of Lake Chilwa. Now, the massive deforestation in the catchment areas of the dams and rivers in Malawi, and the huge amounts of plastic waste, debris and top soil flushing into the water systems are causing the major issues we see playing out today. All the hydro electric stations have been damaged, Malawians are sitting without power, and more rain is on the way. There is also a very real possibility that in the near future the Shire River could silt up, reducing and even stopping its flow, which would have disastrous consequences for Malawi’s electricity supply, and its remaining forests. At this time it is even more important to save every single tree that could help advert this disaster, and avoid doing anything that could add to this problem.
See link: https://psmag.com/environment/deforestation-lessens-access-to-drinking-water
Integrity of this site is important as it is close the source of the Shire River and is part of the water catchment area for the southern lakeshore. Most of the forests in this water catchment area have already been destroyed. The large scale deforestation of the Phirilongwe forest after its elephants were removed in 2009 is a huge factor in the levels of flooding we are seeing today. The siltation currently occurring in Nkhudzi and Namaso Bay are already at their highest levels in recorded history due to the slash and burn agriculture and charcoal production in the surrounding area.
This wanton destruction in the name of development has to stop! Our future and our children’s future are at stake. In fact, that future is already here! People are currently homeless, clinging onto trees and debris waiting to be rescued, or even lost their lives this week because of these practices. Lake Malawi’s fragile ecosystem and all who depend on it is at risk. It will only get worse if we do not stop immediately!
We have the opportunity with this project for it to be a win-win for all, as we are fortunate that there are alternative, cheaper sites that have been identified near by that would ensure the success of the project as well as preserving this extremely valuable and unique area. This project threatens our World Heritage Status, and the unique environment for which it was given that status. Faced with the consequences we see today, preservation of the little forest we have left should be of utmost priority.
We will make sure to keep you informed of any developments and in the meantime we ask you to please continue to talk about this story, share it on all platforms. If you feel that you can assist us further, we invite you to do so, email lakeshepherd@protonmail.com
Thank you for your support!
NB/ correction last update; Ad Konings is the Cichlid specialist and author of the article in Stuart M. Grant Cichlid Conservation Fund website.