Mangochi chiefs against injunction on elephants (Malawi)
Mangochi chiefs against injunction on elephants (Malawi)
BY LUCAS BOTTOMAN, The Daily Times
15 June 2009
Mangochi chiefs led by Traditional Authority Nankumba have protested against an injunction obtained by Ishmael Khan, stopping the relocation of elephants from Mangochi to Majete Game Reserve in Chikwawa.
On Thursday, Nankumba led some chiefs to travel about 200km to the High Court in Blantyre to attend a hearing for both parties in the case that was scheduled for Friday.
Judge Joseph Mwanyungwa was supposed to rule on the matter Sunday, but he reserved his judgement to Wednesday this week.
“Our first duty is to care for our people before caring for animals. We were happy with government’s decision to move the elephants which are killing people and eating crops,” Nankumba argued.
He warned that today people from Senior Chief Chimwala, Namwera, T/A Mponda and his own area would march to the District Commissioner’s office against Khan’s move.
Khan’s lawyer Jonathan Kara wants to push the government to carry out an environmental and wildlife impact assessment before relocating the elephants.
Khan obtained an injunction on Monday last week, but served it on the state on Tuesday after a South African company, Conservation Solution, had already moved nine of the 70 elephants to Majete, a move that angered the chiefs.
State lawyer Zolomphi Nkowani said the hearing was adjourned from Friday to Sunday to allow government as a principal player in the project to join the case.
“We have been to the area and people are upset with the injunction which stopped the government from moving the animals,” Nkowani said.
He further said the elephants are 40km away from the area where they were supposed to be.
A veterinarian leading the removal team from South Africa Andre Uys said in an interview Sunday the injunction was costing them heavily.
“It is sad that we travelled all the way from South Africa to help the community which has been troubled by the elephants for about five years.
“It is becoming too expensive to us because we are spending K1 million a day,” Uys said.
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