By MILDRED KATONGO –
GOVERNMENT has said the inclusion of traditional leaders and other interest groups in the land draft policy consultations will help correct misunderstandings surrounding the document.
Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Howard Sikwela said consultative meetings on  the land policy should incorporate all the views from stakeholders before the draft policy was turned into a legal document.
Reverend Sikwela said this during a provincial consultative meeting on the draft land  policy at Fatmols Lodge in Ndola yesterday.
The meeting was attended by traditional leaders and officials from district councils  and the ministry of Lands.
He said the views from traditional leaders and other stakeholders would help harmonise issues to do with land, and help the Government formulate a solid document.
“Government appreciates the participation of chiefs and other stakeholders. These consultative meetings will help correct misunderstandings surrounding the issue,” he said.
Rev Sikwela said stakeholders’ views were important and should be considered when the final draft policy was formulated.
He said people should not politicise the document, but propose ways to handle the matter.
Rev Sikwela said land was a fundermental resource in any society as it forms the basis of human survival.
He noted that since 2006, the land policy had remained in draft form, hence the need to incorporate people’s views in order to come up with a final document.
Rev Sikwela said land should be managed well as it helps to alleviate poverty.
Director of planning in the ministry of Lands, Veronica Mwiche said the ministry would ensure that the views of the stakeholders on land were taken into consideration.