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British Army Imparts Anti-Poaching Skills to KU Game Rangers

The Chronicle Newspaper (Lilongwe)

August 1, 2005
Chikondi Chiyembekeza
Lilongwe

The British Army is helping in giving anti-poaching skills to Game Rangers at the Kasungu National Park. Secretary for Defence, James Kalilangwe said the exercise would go a long way in saving the number of game in the park, numbers of which have been declining over the past years.

Of all the game, elephants have suffered the most due to poachers who regularly invade the park.

According to figures sourced, the park used to have more than 3,000 elephants but to date the numbers have drastically declined and the park can only boast of having between 250 to 300 elephants.

In the recent past, about six elephants were killed almost on a daily basis.

For four weeks the British military spent time imparting anti-poaching skills and expertise to the Malawi Defence Forces (MDF) and the Kasungu National Park Game Rangers.

The head of the British Military delegation, Lt. Col. Mark Goldsack (MBE) said, during the presentation at the Kasungu Infantry Battle School about 65 kilometers west of the district, that they fully support the park rangers and that the training will help them greatly.

He said the training would increase the capability of the game wardens, which will in turn save the game for tourism purposes and boost the country's economy.

Goldsack said the lessons they deliver are of a high standard bearing in mind that the poachers have developed a tendency of using sophisticated equipment. "It was an extremely hard weeks' training in bush. The training will give them confidence in conducting anti-poaching duties because without training they are extremely vulnerable," he said.

He said the aim of the training, among others, was to ensure a number of appropriately and motivated cadres, in order to meet the operational requirements of Malawi.

About 67 MDF personnel and 27 games rangers were involved in the training that was given.

He said due to the training imparted, poaching has already drastically decreased. "The training has kept the poachers at bay." Kalilangwe also advised the soldiers to be on the watch for the killer disease AIDS, as they had stayed away from their families for a long time. "You should always be on guard on the disease," he said, however indicating that since the training was conducted in the bush, the prospects for engaging in immoral behaviour were next to none.

At the end of the training, Lance Corporal Gerald Chingwaru emerged the best student, Best Section Corporal was Sgt. Limbani Chikoti whereas Phillip Kandoje and Sam Msiska emerged the best in Physical Training (PT) and the most improved student, respectively.

Meanwhile, the MDF Assistant Public Information Officer, Captain Francis Kakhuta-Banda has announced that from 23rd July - 2nd August, the MDF will start conducting a two-week military exercise in the areas of Luwawa, Chikangawa, Perekezi and Mzimba Township, in the Northern region of the country.

A press release issued by the Malawi Defence Force headquarters on Friday last week asks the general public not to fear or feel disturbed by the presence of the army personnel in the areas.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200508010240.html

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