By Deogratias Mmana:
Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change Michael Usi has accused some public officers of frustrating efforts to create alternative sources of energy in the country.
Usi said the conduct is worrisome as it is throwing spanners in the determination of others who are doing everything necessary to fight climate change.
He claimed that some departments are applying extremely tough measures that block those who seek to provide alternative energy sources to reduce overreliance on fuelwood.
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The minister’s remarks follow reports that some government departments are frustrating investors who are working in bamboo farming.
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“There are people who produce charcoal from bamboos and yet other government agencies are charging taxes on charcoal produced from bamboos,” he said.
The minister could not disclose the names of the agencies that he accused of frustrating the climate change fight.
He instead said government departments lack proper coordination to implement policies as a team, a thing that results in pulling in opposite directions.
“We cannot be talking about alternative sources of energy when government agencies suffocate them when they come. With this, we cannot win the fight against climate change,” Usi said.
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An expert in bamboo production, from Germany, Jorg Stamm said for Malawi to exploit the potential of bamboo farming, authorities should avoid imposing taxes on the plant and its products.
“Bamboo should be considered as grass not wood so that it does not have taxes. There should be no tax on grass; no transport control by the police because it is natural grass,” Stamm said.
German International Cooperation (GIZ) is running the ‘More and Empowerment in Rural Areas’ programme to address obstacles to the economic progress of the bamboo value chain.
The German Government, through GIZ, brought together stakeholders in the bamboo industry in Lilongwe to discuss Malawi’s potential of boosting bamboo farming.
