Chapter Two: 



 
2..
SPECIFIC PROBLEMS IN SOME DISTRICTS

2.1 Air pollution in major urban centres (Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba)

The air is polluted because of:

  1. fumes from motor vehicles and factories;
  2. domestic, hospital and industrial wastes;
  3. insufficient care for latrines;
  4. sewerage dams; and
  5. dust (especially Lilongwe City)
2.2 Unplanned settlements in cities and towns

This is due to:

  1. lack of building sites;
  2. long delays in allocating building plots;
  3. insufficient supervision over building plans i.e., the officials do not check if people are observing building standards.
2.3 Degradation of the environment at coal-loading bays in Rumphi District

This is caused by the coal dust and fumes from the trucks collecting the coal.

2.4 Deforestation of areas hosting refugees

This is common to Nsanje, Chikwawa, Mwanza, Mulanje, Thyolo Nkhata Bay, Mangochi, Machinga, Ntcheu, Dedza, Lilongwe and Mchinji where refugees from Mozambique were hosted in camps. The refugees use wood for construction and for domestic purposes;

2.5 Depletion of palm trees (Mangochi, Dedza, Salima, Machinga and Chikwawa Districts)

The depletion of palm trees is caused by tapping of tree sap in order to make palm-wine.

2.6 Unauthorised damming of rivers (Mchinji)

Some farmers construct weirs across rivers to have water for tobacco nurseries.

2.7 Over population of crocodiles (Chikwawa, Nsanje)

Crocodiles are over-populated because they are protected animals.

2.8 Over population of cattle (Nsanje, Chikwawa)

There are too many cattle because the owners prefer keeping the animals rather than selling them. This is probably for prestige.

2.9 Pollution of water and air (Chikwawa)

Fumes and molasses from the sugar estates and factory pollute the air and water.

2.10 Pollution of water and air (Chiradzulu)

This is caused by uncontrolled cross-border dumping of industrial waste from factories in Blantyre.

2.11 Salty water (Dowa, Chikwawa, Mwanza, Zomba, Machinga and Mangochi Districts)

This is caused by the type of underlying rock in the soil.

2.12 Multiplicity of tobacco estates deplete trees (Mchinji, Kasungu, Dowa, Nkhota-kota, Machinga, Mangochi, Rumphi and Mzimba Districts)

The tobacco estates use trees to cure the crop thereby depleting trees.

2.13 Large wildlife reserves (Machinga, Ntchisi, Rumphi Districts)

2.14 Destruction of trees (Chitipa, Rumphi, Mzimba)

Trees are destroyed because of slash and burn method of cultivating millet.

2.15 Degradation of land due to gemstone mining (Mzimba)

Gemstone miners do not rehabilitate the open pits after collecting the gemstone.

 
 

Contents | Acknowledgments | Preamble
Chapters:  |One | Two | Three | Four | Five