Illegal logging in Zambézia: Government threatens to cancel licenses

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Illegal logging in Zambézia: Government threatens to cancel licenses

12:29 CAT | 23 Feb 2016

This year, the National Directorate of Forestry and Wildlife may cancel over thirty five logging licences located around the Gile National Reserve in Zambezia Province because of illegal night logging.

National Director of Forestry and Wildlife Xavier Sakambuera learned the facts on the ground on Sunday evening when he visited the Gile National Reserve and was himself forced to chase down a truckload of illegally felled logs.

Sakambuera had previously ordered the seizure of a container truck in Mocubela carrying an unspecified amount of manually sawn timber.

Sakambuera says it is possible that forestry and wildlife inspectors are involved in the illegal exploitation of timber in Zambezia, adding that his mandate it to fight illegal logging and corrupt inspectors.

Three forestry inspectors of Zambezia Province are to face disciplinary action for leaving the service sector and allegedly belonging to an illegal logging network.

Another suspect denies his involvement saying he was only hired to load the timber. Emerson Albertino told Radio Mozambique he loads up to four trucks a day, and is paid 250 meticais per load.

Source: Rádio Moçambique Zambézia