SINGIDA District Commissioner Godwin Gondwe has taken extraordinary step of kneeling down before residents of Msikii and Munkhola villages, pleading with them to vacate Munkhola Forest Reserve.

The step came after reports that villagers have encroached on the protected forest area, engaging in farming and construction of houses.

Munkhola Forest Reserve, a protected area crucial for environmental conservation, has been subjected to illegal activities, including logging, land clearing for agriculture and building houses. The encroachment has led to severe land degradation, with soil erosion and flooding posing significant risks to the surrounding villages.

During a visit at the weekend, Gondwe was accompanied by members of the District Security and Safety Committee to assess the situation first-hand.

They witnessed the devastating impact of human activities in the area which left over 150 homes affected by soil erosion.

During his visit, he was visibly moved by the situation and resorted to kneeling down as a sign of urgency and appeal to the villagers to vacate the reserve.

Addressing the residents, Gondwe gave them a three-month ultimatum to leave the forest reserve.

“I beg you; please understand the seriousness of this situation. I want the village chairman to confirm that this message has been understood,” he said, emphasizing the dire consequences of continuing to encroach on the land.

He explained that the damage to the forest reserve has led to soil erosion, which in turn has caused water to flood Munkhola Village.

The flooding has resulted in latrines collapsing and homes being flooded, creating a public health threats and posing serious risks to safety of the villagers.

“The forest is not just a place for timber and farming; it is essential for the balance of our environment and your own wellbeing. The consequences of destroying it will affect your children and future generations. You are responsible for protecting this land for them,” Gondwe said.

The DC also highlighted that many of the residents who purchased land in the reserve had been misled.

“Those who bought land here were defrauded. The authority to allocate land lies with the Village General Assembly, not the Village Council. If you bought land from the council, you were deceived,” he said, urging the villagers to seek redress for the fraudulent land deals.

 In response, several residents acknowledged the severity of the situation, expressing their concern about the floods and the damage to their homes.