By Leah Malimbasa:
Felesiya Chithumba is a traditional healer who has transformed her passion for traditional medicine into a mission for reforestation.
The 42-year-old mother from Mwiza Village in Sub-Traditional Authority Chiputula in Chikwawa District, started her journey as a herbalist in 1998 when her child, Emmanuel, fell terminally ill.
With the child’s life at risk, Chithumba turned to her grandmother for help instead of heading to a nearby health centre. Her grandmother led her deep into the forest and stopped by a certain tree that she claimed held the cure for the illness.
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A mixture of its leaves and bark was prepared immediately and shoved into the baby’s mouth. To Chithumba’s surprise, her son’s ailment vanished in no time and he recovered.
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For Chithumba, this was a powerful revelation of the value of traditional medicine. This experience was a turning point, revealing the valuable role of traditional medicine.
“The trees are our heritage. They provide medicine, food and even protection against the harsh climate changes threatening our fields and homes. That day, my grandmother showed me that every tree has a purpose. Some cure, some protect and others sustain life in ways we often take for granted,” she said.
Currently participating in the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP), Chithumba is committed to giving back to the forests that have sustained her family and career for many years.
“The programme is helping us to preserve these valuable natural resources for future generations,” she says. “It is not just about planting trees; it is about restoring balance to the environment.”
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Chithumba also practices natural tree regeneration, a sustainable method that nurtures existing trees to encourage growth without cutting or disturbing the ecosystem.
She adds: “By letting trees grow naturally, we protect the forest’s biodiversity and ensure it remains useful for years to come. This work goes beyond my role as a healer—it is about survival, sustainability and ensuring that future generations will have access to the same resources I was fortunate to learn about.”
Chikwawa District Forestry Officer, Hector Nkawihe echoes Chithumba’s sentiments, emphasising the impact of the programme on local reforestation efforts.
Nkawihe says the programme has made strides in promoting Village Forest Areas (VFAs) to ensure communities have convenient access to forest products and services.
“During the last cycle, we made significant progress in establishing new VFAs while sustainably managing the older ones. In Chikwawa, the CS-EPWP now covers 2, 000 hectares of forest, with 335 VFAs managed by Village Natural Resource Management Committees across the district,” he points out.
On the other hand, Chikwawa District Disaster Risk Management Officer, Charity Machika emphasises how reforestation is essential for mitigating disasters such as floods and strong winds.
“One major contributing factor of flooding in Chikwawa is river siltation. So, to avoid siltation of rivers, reforestation is crucial because it helps to stabilise soil and reduce sediments flowing into rivers. Additionally, trees act as a buffer against strong winds, protecting homes and crops,” Machika says.
Chikwawa District CS-EPWP Project Facilitator, Chifundo Thungwa underscores the programme’s broader significance in building household resilience to climate shocks.
“The programme is designed to improve household incomes, enhance food security and build resilience to climate challenges,” Thungwa explains.
Participants are paid to work on catchment-based projects that address environmental degradation, including afforestation, soil conservation and gully reclamation, according to Thungwa.
“These activities reduce surface run-off, prevent soil erosion and rehabilitate degraded land, making communities more resilient to climate change,” she observes.
District Commissioner for Chikwawa, Nardin Kamba commends the programme for reducing disaster risks and improving livelihoods.
“The initiative has positively impacted the lives of participants and is helping to restore degraded land and enhance soil conservation through techniques such as check dams and swales which improve soil fertility and reduce erosion,” he says.
“These techniques improve soil fertility and are vital for sustainable farming and food security in disaster-prone areas,” he says.
Kamba adds that communities frequently hit by floods and other natural disasters face challenges contributing to national development.
However, Kamba notes that programmes that reduce disaster risks are crucial for low-lying and flood-prone districts such as Chikwawa and Nsanje.
“We are working tirelessly to build resilience and mitigate climate change effects. These efforts also align with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 10 and 13 which focus on promoting socio-economic inclusion and combating climate change,” reaffirms Kamba.
Funded by the World Bank and the Multi-Donor Trust Fund, the CS-EPWP is being implemented across all districts in Malawi.—Mana
