Raiply Malawi Limited has noted that forests are being plundered, an issue that may negatively affect the company’s profits, as well as affect government’s economic gains.

The company’s Chikangawa Plantation Manager, Nathaniel Nthala, spoke of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) factory which produces high quality and export value wood products. According to Nthala, the factory‘s operations are threatened by members of the community who set bush fires and cause extensive damage to trees which are main raw materials for the company factory.

The Plantation Manager outlined that Raiply has lost 1,116 hectares of trees, during this year alone, and emphasized that the malpractice needs to be acted on. “If the destruction of trees can not be urgently addressed, it will have serious reparation on the factory production which will affect the country’s economic growth,” said Nthala.