Natural Resources ministry co-opting of EPA staff jeopardised programmes – report

The creation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) following the November 2011 elections has resulted in serious staffing issues at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since persons have been transferred to the ministry or one of its programmes.

This is according to the annual report of the EPA for the year 2012, released in electronic form in the National Assembly last week.

According to the report, six staff members from the EPA’s core programme  were assigned by the MNRE to its Head Office, the National Parks Commission, and the Pick-it-Up Campaign. “As a result, the Natural Resources Management Division battled without a director and a special projects officer, for the entire year.