Mon, 01 Jan 2018 10:19:43 +0000
DEPARTMENT of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) officers in Chama are living in dilapidated grass-thatched houses despite the commendable job they are doing in preserving our natural heritage, FDD district chairperson Yotam Mtayachalo has charged.
Mr. Mtayachalo named Lundu camp as one of the areas where officers are living at the mercy of nature as their dwelling places were in a deplorable state. He said the situation was worse at Mpyanakunda which is 50 kilometres from Lundu which only had one decent house, leaving the rest of the officers to live in deplorable conditions not commensurate with the service they were rendering to the country.
“Lundu wildlife camp is in Chama North constituency in Chama district of Muchinga province. This camp is situated about 50 kilometres from Matumbo road junction on the great North Road along the never completed Chama-Matumbo road project. These officers have been neglected in most of these camps especially in remote areas and as such officers experience myriad of problems arising from poor working conditions.
“Wildlife officers live in tiny makeshift grass thatched houses with only one semi decent house for the camp boss which was probably built during colonial days or immediately after independence which is in a
dilapidated state.
The situation is even worse at Mpyanakunda wildlife camp which is remote and is situated about 50km from Lundu wildlife camp,” Mr. Mtayachalo said.
He said listening to one of the wildlife officers narrating the ordeal they are subjected to besides the poor living conditions, he could not believe it that sometimes they move about 100 kilometres to and from Luangwa during their patrols.
“I talked to one officer from Lundu wildlife camp I gave a lift about their working conditions because as a former labour leader, I am always interested in finding out about working conditions of workers. It was a very touching and sad state of affairs.
“Apart from being subjected to appalling working conditions, officers walk on foot on patrol to and from Luangwa which is about 100km from Lundu camp. The camps have no vehicle and no social amenities. The officers who are working in remote areas are not even given hardship allowance to motivate them,” Mr. Mtayachalo said.
He challenged the ministry to adequately arm the wild life officers if they were to continue repelling poachers from our endangered species because they encounter a lot of risks from the dangerous poachers whom he said were better armed.
Mr Mtayachalo also challenged the Minister of Tourism to find time to visit his men and women operating in remote camps so that he familiarises himself with the challenges they were going through.
