CHARCOAL PRODUCTION IN MALAWI

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roadside charcoal selling


Charcoal burning has long been declared illegal in Malawi since independence from Britain in 1966. The government now seem to be serious more than ever about charcoal burning with the issue of climate change.

 Government of Malawi signed an edict empowering soldiers to arrest people found burning charcoal. When these people are arrested, their items too are confiscated for example bicycles. To my surprise, the confiscated items are used by the law enforcers themselves rather than following right procedures.

When people are asked why they burn charcoal despite the growing concern in climate change, they always blame the countries blackouts. They say charcoal is their only alternative source of energy which is reliable and affordable too.

The issue of charcoal burning is far more difficult to curb because a lot of households depend on charcoal use. Rural and urban people support their families through charcoal business.
Criminalizing charcoal business and offering no alternative solutions has not helped to solve matters. Without charcoal what will the dependants do, and what about us those who use charcoal when there is no electricity or cannot afford to use it? And the issue of licensing charcoal production even complicates everything.

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