By CHATULA KAMPO –

GOVERNMENT says it will degazette Mova Hill and Zone B Maposa forest reserves in Luanshya District and allocate land to over 3,000 small-scale farmers.

Roan Member of Parliament (MP) Chishimba Kambwili confirmed the development at the weekend in Luanshya, saying the land would be divided into three hectare plots and given to small-scale farmers for free in his constituency.

This comes after an outcry from small-scale farmers from Kanshinde area in Luanshya who wanted Government to degazette the forest reserves for agriculture purposes.

The farmers appealed to Government through their MP to give them permanent land where they would be free to carry out agriculture activities.

The farmers had in the past years been squatting and carrying out illegal farming activities on the land that belongs to the Forest
Department and the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.

Mr Kambwili who is Youth and Sports Minister, said he had meetings with the Forestry  Department and the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and it was agreed that the entire Mova Hill and Zone B Maposa forest reserves be degazetted for agriculture activities.

He said farmers would be free to carry out agriculture activities in the area as they would be given permanent land.

Mr Kambwili, however, appealed to the farmers, especially women and youths to come up with viable projects and access funds that were provided for by Government for empowerment.

He also warned the farmers not to resale the land once given as this would deprive them of a life investment.