By Draxon Maloya

As the Volleyball Association of Malawi (VAM) prepares for the Raiply National Volleyball Championship, slated for November 13th-16th in Mzuzu City, communities in and around Vipya Plantation in Mzimba and Nkhatabay Districts are being urged to avoid setting it on fires.

Raiply Malawi Limited’s Public Relations Officer, Dalitso Chimwala Phiri, made the appeal over the weekend following a successful meeting between VAM president and his committee and Raiply management.

“Fires are very destructive and wipe away years of investment at a go, Trees in any forest are blameless and must not be destroyed for whatever reason. The Viphya is a water tower, but it can only remain as such if it is forested.” Chimwala said.

Reacting ro the development on his Facebook page, one of the active citizens in Mzuzu City, Augustin Atom Harawa hailed Raiply Malawi Limited for promoting regeneration of trees ensuring forestry sustainability.

“It is exciting that the company is again coming with a bang through National Volleyball Tournament in Mzuzu to bring the message across on the need to protect forests in the country including Chikangawa -its catchment area,” Harawa said.

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VAM Vice General Secretary George Dickie Mbewe confirmed the meeting with Raiply’s Chief Executive Officer Khrisha Das and his management team, promising to share more insights later.

“We have just concluded the meeting with the sponsors, but the official programme will be provided shortly,” Mbewe said.

Chimwala and Mbewe didn’t disclose this year’s sponsorship package for the Raiply National Volleyball Championship which is expected to be exciting, with African Volleyball President Madame Bouchra Hajij in attendance.

Raiply Malawi Limited has sponsored the championship for 15 years, doubling its sponsorship to K25 million last year.