Self Help Africa, an international charity working for the economic empowerment of rural communities in the country, says it anticipates to achieve a reduction of the over-reliance of charcoal as the source of energy by 2030.

The move, according to the organisation's coordinator responsible for its Energising Development (EnDev) Project, Issa Bakili is to reduce destruction of the country's vegetative cover through charcoal and fire wood production by encouraging the adoption of cleaner sources of energy. 

"Our findings have shown that most people mainly those from the rural areas are unable to embrace other sources of clean energy such as electricity and gas due to their huge costs. We are encouraging communities to adopt a less firewood consuming charcoal burner dubbed ‘chitetezo mbaula’ which is relatively cheaper ," said Bakili. 

He made the remarks over the weekend in the area of Traditional Authority Nkalo in Chiradzulu during the launch of a M'bwezera Chitezo football trophy in the area aimed at encouraging the communities to adopt the energy-efficient charcoal burner. 

During the launch of the trophy, Chitetezo Mbaula fotball bonanza, the organisation also sold Chitetezo mbaula to scores of people who witnessed the launch. 

Linne Loydi of Group Village Headman Namondi Traditional Authority Nkalo in the district anticipates to reduce time she spend searching for firewood once she start using the chitetezo mbaula apart from helping her to contribute in conserving the environment. 

Self Help Africa is implementing the Energising Development (EnDev) project under a global energy access partnership aimed at improving the lives of people in developing countries by providing them with access to sustainable energy services. 

The organisation with funding from the GIZ is targeting to reach out to about 110 000 households with the alternative sources of energy in some six districts of the Southern Region namely Chiradzulu, Mulanje, Thyolo, Blantyre, Balaka and Phalombe.