LUO

GOVERNMENT says it will de-gazette some parts of Nsumbu and Mweru Wantipa national parks to the local people that have settled in the two parks.
Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Professor Nkandu Luo says the move is aimed at resolving the issues of encroachment in the two national parks.
Prof Luo said Government would cut off highly populated areas of settlement in the parks and give land to the people so that there was a clear demarcation between the national parks and the residential areas.
ZANIS reports that the Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister who was in the company of Luapula Province Minister Brigadier General Benson Kapaya, Home Affairs Deputy Minster Steven Kampyongo and Lands Deputy Minister Mutaba Mwali said this in Chiengi District at a meeting with six chiefs held at Chiengi District Council chambers yesterday.
The meeting with the traditional leaders was held to resolve the conflict between the people and the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) in the two parks.
Prof Luo said although the issue of encroachment was there in the two national parks, Government was also concerned with the use of dangerous weapons among the locals adding that the conflicts between the people and ZAWA were largely as a result of ZAWA’s  intention to disarm the local people.
She said once the issue was resolved, Government would embark on a programme to restock the two national parks with wild animals.
She said Government was worried at the rate at which Lake Mweru Wantipa was drying saying to prevent it from further depletion of water, it would embark on a tree planting exercise around the lake and the removal of silt on the water body.
Gen Benson Kapaya described the move as a step in the right direction.
Gen Kapaya said the move would add up to the tourism potential that existed in the province.
He said the population in Chiengi District had grown over the years hence the people finding themselves residing in the national parks.
Traditional leaders present at the meeting included Senior Chief Mununga, Chief Kaputa who was representing Senior Chiefs Puta, and Nsamba and chiefs Mukupa Katandula and Lambwe Chomba. – ZANIS