UNESCO



World Heritage Site Protection

EXPLOSIONS ROCK THE WORLD HERITAGE SITE!

MALAIKA SACRANIE

Blantyre, Malawi

9 MAR 2022 — 

Today, the 9th of March, PLEM Construction (Malawi)/ Alghanim (Kuwait) under the approval of Southern Region Water Board, blasted explosives within the Lake Malawi National Park, World Heritage Site. The citizens closest to the blast site were not pre warned. No siren was sounded before blasting as required by law. No national parks scouts to clear the area of animals beforehand, breaching the conditions in the ESIA, and causing potential grievous harm to people and wildlife within the blast site.

There is a court hearing for an injunction on Friday. The contractors have accelerated their pace and have been working through the weekends and well into the night, seemingly trying to do as much damage before they might be stopped. There is no proper signage, no lighting or safety measures being followed causing a near serious accident on one occasion and great disruption to all in Namaso Bay. They are behaving as if they are above the law. Two important funerals related to the nearby Chiefs were totally disrespected as they continued to work throughout, which is against local customs.

Apparently a Rapid Response Team from UNESCO/IUCN will be coming to inspect the site ‘at the end of the month’. Although we are relieved that there is some support from this quarter, we fear it may be too little too late. Numerous organizations have been created, millions of dollars been made available, pledging to conserve and protect Malawi’s forests and wildlife and its cultural heritage. It is time for these organizations to ensure full implementation of these conventions and achieve their objectives and stop this atrocity! The lack of respect for an UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE by PLEM/Alghanim, Malawi Government, and the funders Kuwait KFAED and EIB are deeply disturbing.

This site is the only mountain that has not felt the pressures of humans, until now. It exists like an island surrounded by maize fields and water, and is the last safe refuge for the many vulnerable and threatened species in the area. Blasting in this area is extremely disruptive, and these animals have nowhere to run to. The long term consequences of carving a road through this pristine environment, making it accessible to people; poaching, pollution, deforestation, erosion all resulting in a great loss of habitat for Lake Malawi National Park flora and fauna.

A 6 meter wide, 245 meter long road has been ripped through the Lake Malawi National Park. The blasting today is one of many many more that will be required to make the road up to the saddle of the mountain to the proposed reservoir site, where the lone grave presumed to be the greatest Chewa Chief Sosola Kudzimakazulu was found. They have only reached the first bend on their route up. They must be stopped before more damage is caused to this unique place, destroying ancient rock art and Chewa sacred sites.

Please sign and share this petition so that the world can see the atrocities that are taking place here. Please also go to the ‘Wedonthavetime’ app:https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/05dadb4f-a85f-49d2-bb0a-95b869150b54 join for free and make sure to scroll down and click ‘agree’. More ‘agrees’ will trigger direct international action from this group.

It is a very sad day for Nkhudzi Mountain/Namaso Bay but we are buoyed by your support and will continue to push for this project to be moved to a more suitable location, where one thing need not be destroyed to have another.

Thank you for helping us to save Malawi’s heritage and protect our Lake Malawi.

Read More About it Here: https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/c1b61766-dce9-4b61-8b50-02cbc8fdd76a?utm_source=url-copy%26utm_medium=wdht-web-app-share%26utm_campaign=alliance_earth