Luangwa Chief bemoans bias of development

Chiefs in Luangwa district have said poverty in the area has increased because priority was been given to wild animals than other developmental projects that can improve people’s well being.

Speaking during a district stakeholders consultative meeting held at Makichilo Lodge yesterday, Senior Chief Mburuma and Chief Mphuka of the Nsenga-Ludzi and Chikunda people respectively said they appreciated and welcomed other investments which will improve the well being of the people other than only depending on tourism.

The meeting learnt of a Germany Investor who has the intentions of putting up a Sugarcane plantation and start up a fishing farming industry in Luangwa district if the local leadership find land for his projects.

The two chiefs said a Sugarcane plantation and Fish farming industries will enhance development in the district as these were big projects that will create more employment for the people of Luangwa.

Chief Mphuka however said it was sad that Luangwa district was in a Game Management Area (GMA) where people and animals live side by side and such developments are usually shunned in preference to wildlife conservation leaving majority of the people suffering.

He said Luangwa district which was a drought prone area needs such investment that can cushion people’s lives through job creation as people will be able to finds jobs that will sustain their lives.

Chief Mphuka also said the Chakwenga Mine project has stalled for a long time after the Environmental Impact Assessment report which said wildlife and a mine cannot be together and this has made a lot of youths unemployed because this was going to be the first ever industry in Luangwa which could have created jobs for the people.

He lamented that it was like animals were more favoured than the people and to make matters worse the same animals end up feeding on the little crop that people struggle to cultivate for them to feed their families.

And Senior Chief Mburuma said as traditional leaders, they have no objection to giving land to such investments which will improve the well being of their subjects but the issue of been in a GMA usually prevents such investments.

He however said similar areas like Chiawa which is in the GMA and has the same weather pattern like Luangwa has a lot of investments such as Zambeef that have created a lot of job opportunities for the locals and other Zambians.

Chief Mburuma said though he appreciated that the district has tourism potential, it was only benefiting a few individuals who are lucky to find jobs in a few lodges that are in the area leaving majority of the people without jobs.

The meeting which was chaired by Luangwa District Administrative Officer, Jairos Simukoko welcomed the development saying it will uplift the standard of living of the people.

Mr Simukoko has since appealed to the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) and the Zambia Environment and Management Authority (ZEMA) to consider such projects for the benefit of the people.

ZAWA Lower Zambezi National Park Ranger, Hamiwe Chipego said ZAWA will not interfere with such projects as long as they do not disturb animal corridors.

And speaking earlier, Amatheon Agri Company Managing Director, Valentin Schnoor said his company has ambitions of starting up a Sugar plantation and fish farming in Luangwa district as it has seen the potential of the area.

Mr Schnoor who was accompanied by George Allison, the Agriculture Business Development Manager said his company is a European Agric Business and Farming company developing sustainable projects mainly in Africa through the development of new large scale irrigation agriculture operation and create shareholder value, community improvement and increased food production.

He said the sugarcane plantation will require a stretch of land ranging from 10, 000 to 20, 000 hectors for a start which the chiefs said that was not a problem because the district has vast land where there are no settlements.