Thursday, March 28, 2024

President Lungu signs a Statutory Instrument (SI) to bar transiting of the mukula logs in Zambia

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President Edgar Lungu Inspects Impounded trucks carrying Mukula Tree at Nakonde Border on monday 27-03-2017
President Edgar Lungu Inspects Impounded trucks carrying Mukula Tree at Nakonde Border on monday 27-03-2017
PRESIDENT Lungu has signed a Statutory Instrument (SI) to bar transiting of the mukula logs in Zambia from neighbouring countries.

Minister of Lands Jean Kapata, who announced the development at State House yesterday, said the SI was released in the government gazette notice on Friday.

Ms Kapata said she will sign her SI today and it will be published in the government gazette this Friday, thereby completely making it illegal to use the Zambian soil to transit the endangered tree species.

She was briefing journalists shortly after presenting her ministry’s quarterly report to President Lungu.

“Once the SI is signed, it will mean that Zambia is not going to allow any transit of the mukula logs on its soil. We will have sealed where the mukula is coming from, especially from the Congo DR,” she said.

And Minister of Community Development and Social Welfare Emerine Kabanshi has said President Lungu has directed her ministry to revamp its two farms, Mukabi and Luminu, in Luapula Province to raise revenue to support the disabled and vulnerable.

Ms Kabanshi also presented her ministry’s quarterly report.

“The President has directed us to engage the ministries of Agriculture and Livestock and Fisheries so that we can stock some animals and raise revenue to fend for the vulnerable,” she said.

Ms Kabanshi said President Lungu also wants her ministry to take the lead in breaking generational poverty by ensuring that there is an increase in the number of households on the social cash transfer scheme.

“The head of State wants us to ensure that girls get an education so that they acquire skills and break poverty in their families,” she said.

Minister of Tourism and Arts Charles Banda also presented his ministry’s report with the head of State urging him to urgently put in place stringent measures to protect Zambia’s wildlife.

Mr Banda said the President wants the Ministry of Tourism and Arts to consider recruiting more officers in the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to curb the high poaching levels in national parks across the country.

“The President wants us to prioritise wildlife conservation because wildlife is the major component that has contributed to the growth of Zambia’s tourism sector,” he said.

The minister said the Department of National Parks and Wildlife currently has 1,800 officers instead of the required 4,000.

34 COMMENTS

  1. This is a great act by his majesty.

    The trees should be left alone and I have read sad stories regarding people that use them for self enrichment.

    Another decision that will
    Make everyone happy.

    Thanks

    BB2014,16

    • I am pretty sure that @Mushota you are having a good laugh at PF government policies. It is just hilarious to think that you are now supporting the government when a few years back you criticized it.

    • Chagwa needs to be careful with these SI he signs, here we are talking of transiting, Mukula is not a prohibited product and as such may be legally traded in other countries. Whats the implication of such an SI on our trade agreements with others on free movement off goods? What if suddenly Botswana and Zimbabwe Ban transiting of Rosewood in their country? what happens to our Rosewood exports ? We should be careful with these impromptu policies by the PF. There is nothing to applaud here government should instead strengthen border systems because the SI is as good as admitting that we are porous and we cannot adequately Manage what comes in and out of the Nation.

    • It’s actually senior govt officials who are trading in Mukula. So this SI is unnecessary. Just instill discipline in your team.

    • OK I appreciate this one. Are we just stopping transit in Zambia or also cut down of mukuba and other endangered tree species in Zambia? It is really sad to go on google earth and see Zambia from the sky. It is sad indeed to see how we have completely eradicated our trees due to malasha. Most places are just burnt grass and small bush paths.
      I hope and pray that the forestry are doing a good job in growing and preserving these endangered species of trees. Just look at CHIKANDA orchid tubers, they are completely eradicated in Zambia and only imported from Tanzania and Angola today. We need to preserve these endangered plant species. Thanks

    • Where are these trees going to to transit in Zambia?So what’s his stance on cutting down trees in Zambia? Why dont you do the same with trophy hunting of Big Cats?

    • @1.2 shameless, IN FACT WE DO NOT NEED THE ROSEWOOD TO BE EXPORTED TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN ITS RAW FORM. WHAT WE NEED ARE STRICT POLICIES THAT STOP THE EXPORTATION OF ROSEWOOD AND OTHER INDIGENOUS TIMBER TO OTHER COUNTRIES AND THE RE-AFFORESTATION OF ALL DEPLETED FORESTS WITH OUR INDIGENOUS TREES AND PLANTS. ZAMBIANS MUST BE ADDING VALUE TO THOSE WOOD RAW MATERIAL BEFORE EXPORTING THEM ABROAD AND OVERSEAS.

    • Extremely excellent approach to dealing with the crooks who were using DRC to cheat.

      I commend you Mr president, you are a man if your word and you walk the talk.

      All you who are busy fighting to live in statehouse, seleni babombeko ba ECL.

      Now critics like UPND, I think they will have it even rougher in 2021.

      If Lungu won in 2016 when the economy was quick hungry and I’ll due to falling copper prices, how much will he be voted for when much more is achieved by 2021?

      The UPND’s thinking, as I have observed, seems to follow a circular path.

      And so they simply go round and round, never reaching anywhere, and unfortunately never realising they are passing through the same points continually.

      This is why they have continued to feature HH who has failed six times, but…

    • This is why they have continued to feature HH who has failed six times, but they expect him to win.

      There should be no pride in doing the same thing expecting different results.

  2. Bans are not a solution to any thing. Instead we should be thinking about how do we get the most out of every situation. Like in this case, put a 200% tax for Mukula logs transiting the country. Make money to buy medicines for hospitals.

  3. After him and his minions have already benefitted in this illegal trade this is when he wants to show that he is working.

  4. Only when lungu Farts do they do any work.

    Ministers and all GRZ have been reduced to stone throwers for PF.

    Pathetic.

  5. The trees are from other countries so this will not stop them being logged. Better SI would be to ban logging of mukulu in Zambia.
    Why does the President have to tell a Minister what to do. A good minister would come up with their own initiatives to impress her boss and constiuents.
    Doe we really need ministers when all decisions are from HE ECL?

  6. LT did the blog b4 this one upset Mushota is that why it wasnt posted or is the censor reading it. Pleae be balanced in your postings. I am fortunate I am not politically aligned. Just pro Zambia moving forward

  7. Listen to the dull Jean Kapata saying the President has directed us to do this and that…reallly sad reading…we are paying these tins to sit in their offices and wait for orders. Kapata should not be in any ministry not even working as a receptionists she is too dull.

    • One of the worst stone throwing PF caders , jean kapata. Under her tourism nose dived. She instead concentrated on issuing hunting licences and organising street parties in Livingstone.

    • True.
      All these Belly Cadres’ are NOT really ministers, but” “Chagwa Rubber Stamps”
      USELESS!!

  8. Lionel Richie Nishimwe Regular Writer For #The Zambian Observer Newspaper Goes Missing In Rwanda

  9. This SI only mentions Mukula being transited through from “neighbouring” countries. Yet, we know as well as they do, that Mukula is being harvested all across this country. And will the SI do about that? Nothing. Why not go for an outright ban in the cutting of this tree in Zambia until we have instituted enough mechanisms to do this sensibly.

  10. Forest Rangers (BA KAPENDA MABULA) where are you? These chaps in green uniform were tough. If they found you in the forest collecting wild fruits, you would be in for it. I remember a story of how they severely dealt with a man who was found with another man’s wife putting pipe in the forest in Polen area in Kabwe. It was bad news.
    Do we still have Forest Rangers in Zambia to deal with this Mukula tree issue?

  11. Everytime I hear a minister talking it’s the president has instructed the president has directed and what nonsense..can’t they do things on their own but wait on the president to say something..it’s a shame..Mushota what have they bribed you with?

  12. Extremely excellent approach to dealing with the crooks who were using DRC to cheat.

    I commend you Mr president, you are a man if your word and you walk the talk.

    All you who are busy fighting to live in statehouse, seleni babombeko ba ECL.

    Now critics like UPND, I think they will have it even rougher in 2021.

    If Lungu won in 2016 when the economy was quick hungry and I’ll due to falling copper prices, how much will he be voted for when much more is achieved by 2021?

    The UPND’s thinking, as I have observed, seems to follow a circular path.

    And so they simply go round and round, never reaching anywhere, and unfortunately never realising they are passing through the same points continually.

    This is why they have continued to feature HH who has failed six times, but…

    • This is why they have continued to feature HH who has failed six times, but they expect him to win.

      There should be no pride in doing the same thing expecting different results.

  13. WHO SIGNS OR SIGNED THE STATUTORY INSTRUMENT,MINISTER OR PRESIDENT?? Like others have observed, what we need are PROPER BORDER CONTROLS,INTELLIGENCE GATHERING AND REAFFORESTATION PROGRAMS TO END THIS PROBLEMS. We may come up with many legal instruments but if OUR PRACTICAL ENFORCEMENT IS WEAK, WE WILL END UP AT THE SAME STAGE! Too many bans may just encourage law enforcers to be benefiting more if there are poor surveillance systems put in place to arrest culprits at all levels!!

  14. No wonder i keep writing that Changwa has been reduced to performing duties for ministers due to their dullness combined with laziness. Why should the head of state be issuing Statutory Instruments? Where was the minister of lands or S/he lacks foresight, dull enough to craft a piece of legislation? Ba Chagwa, hire competent Zambians for your ministeries regardless of political affiliations as you are now running the country not a political kantemba. Levy P Mwanawasa was indeed a statesman during his presidency and he left behind a legacy worthy embracing………

  15. Why ban goods transiting Zambia? It ‘s not only Mukula tree that transit Zambia there so many other products from other countries that go through Zambia.This SI should be revisted.
    E.G there is copper and cobalt concentrates transiting Zambia from DRC will you also ban that?

  16. First dealing of mukula tree was ilegal in DRC and now in DRC it’s legal to deal in mukula tree and now our government finds it ilegal for other countries legalize what is also in there country.my advice is Mr or Mrs minister go to DRC and see for yourself how big the forest in DRC is and coming to the barn on transit of the mukula in to the country thats wrong we depend on each other and mr president please think about Zambian well being cz wen ur close everything that is benefiting the other sectors of business etc transporters now more than 200 zambian trucks are stuck in DRC and drivers so please think twice mr president mukula tree is not only in Zambia send this lady to DRC so that she can have the full report on want she saying not just to mislead the nation and create…

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