By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
THE Government has said it is going ahead with enacting land reforms even though the process might upset some key stakeholders because it wants to empower women and youths.
Chief Government spokesperson who is also minister of Information Dora Siliya said the Government has no choice but to enact land reforms as a way to make it easier for the vulnerable groups in society to access land.
Ms Siliya said she was aware that the process or the outcome would make some people uncomfortable but that it was important for the good of the country.
She said currently, the brackets of people with little or no income, who are mainly women and youths, had no access to land from either the State or the traditional leaders, a situation that condemned them to further poverty.
Ms Siliya said in order to alleviate poverty, women and youths should be given fair opportunities to access land and get title deeds.
Without title to land, women and youths would not have empowerment to enable them borrow from the banks or other lending entities.
Land was equally important to own in view of building a house.
Ms Siliya said this recently when she featured on Millennium Radio.
“I know that some key people will be uncomfortable but we have no choice because youths are desperate for earning an income through businesses but they can’t right now because of lack of title,” Ms Siliya said.
She said the Government has continued to engage key stakeholders like traditional leaders.
Ms Siliya said she was confident that the perceived impasse between the Government and the ministry of Lands would be resolved soon.
She said the Government and traditional leaders both had the same objective of providing a better living for Zambians.
Ms Siliya said she was certain reforms acceptable to both Government and other stakeholders would be reached.