By NAKUBIANA SHABONGO –
THE Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has moved the illegal settlers that had encroached on Blue Lagoon National Park on the Kafue Flats.
The illegal settlers moved out last week, after a series of meetings were held with them and Senior Chief Shakumbila of the Sala people of Mumbwa.
Last year, ZAWA embarked on an exercise to mark the Park boundary.
With the involvement of the local community and the area chief, a verification exercise to clearly mark the boundary was carried out.
It was during the boundary marking exercise that it was proved beyond any reasonable doubt that some villagers were staying right in the Park.
The authority liaised with the affected parties and the area headman, after which a three days ultimatum was given to the settlers to move out of the Park.
On Monday last week, the settlers moved out and the illegal structures, which posed an obstacle to resource protection efforts and environmental risk, have since been destroyed.
ZAWA public relations officer Readith Muliyunda said the removal of the illegal settlers will finally bring sanity to the National Park.
The Authority would also like to re-emphasise that living in National Park is a criminal offence punishable by law.?ZAWA is urging all illegal settlers in protected areas to understand this and move out before the Authority intervenes.
