By THANDIWE MOYO  –
THE Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs says consultations are ongoing with stakholders like traditional leaders on the contentious draft National Land Policy.
Minister Lawrence Sichalwe said in an interview that the Lands and Natural Resources permanent secretary and his permanent secretary were currently working out modalities for further meetings with chiefs and other traditional leaders.
He said Government would continue to engage the chiefs so that their concerns could be discussed and resolved.
He said the meeting, when it is held, would be an opportunity to validate the issues that the chiefs brought in during the national presentation of the draft land policy held a few weeks ago.
Mr Sichalwe said government understood that the traditional leaders were key stakeholders in the process of land administration and that it was committed towards finalising the land policy.
Meanwhile, Land alliance executive director Nsama Chikolwa said it was it imperative for the authorities to widely engage the chiefs in the drafting of the land policy.
She said the chiefs should not be faulted for their apparent hostility displayed during the national validation meeting as they had not been properly engaged in the process writing the policy.
“I think it is important for the chiefs, stakeholders and the line ministries to discuss the process together so that the draft land policy can be concluded,” she said.