Menongue – The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, António Francisco de Assis, on Saturday considered the illegal exploitation of Mussivi wood in the province of Cuando Cubango as “very critical”, and he announced the criminal liability of the companies involved.
The government official, who was speaking to the press in Cuito Cuanavale, after a visit to three shipyards owned by Chinese businessmen in Menongue and that municipality, which have seized Mussivi wood, said that the exploitation of this type of wood is prohibited in the country.
He highlighted that although cutting Mussivi is not permitted, this species of wood was the most seized in the shipyards visited, due to non-compliance with the law, so the ministry will put an end to this practice, having already identified the offending companies.
He stated that the seized wood will be used in favor of the State, to support companies that manufacture school desks, windows, doors, furniture, and the rest may be exported, depending on the modalities required for this purpose.
“Cuando Cubango and Moxico are the two provinces that hold the Mussivi species in Angola, whose wood is highly valued on the Asian continent”, the minister highlighted.
He said that in the upcoming forestry campaign there will be more rigor in the exploitation of wood in Cuando Cubango and Moxico and a set of measures to protect the forestry heritage. ALK/FF/PLB/DOJ
