Shibuyunji District Commissioner, Alfred Shaputu says the government halted the selling of land in Kawena forest as well as other villages in the district.
Mr Shaputu states that Government is concerned with the displacement of over five thousand people in Kawena forest due to rampant sales of land to investors.
He said since his appointment as District Commissioner, his office has received countless reports of people being illegally displaced from their land leaving them without anywhere to go.
The District Commissioner was saying this after having a meeting with Kawena forest residents.
He met with them to discuss the way forward after they have been displaced.
Meanwhile, Senior Headman Kailindi of Shakumbila chiefdom in Kawena forest has appealed to the government to intervene.
He says the number of people being displaced is growing they have nowhere to go.
BLAME THE CHIEFS AND HEADMEN GIVING OUT LAND WITH NO FORESIGHT
LET THEM BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MESS
The villagers themselves sell the land to displace themselves.
The chiefs should not be allowed to sell land to anyone, especially the so called foreign investors, most of whom are either fake or just hustlers. The government should’ve the final say in the selling of land. Most chiefs are not educated enough to negotiate with these shady foreign investors (land grabbers), who take advantage of their naivete to scam them out of the land. No foreigners should be allowed to buy large swathes of land, unless they’re confirmed farmers. If you don’t protect land from foreigners, they’ll literary take over the country, displacing Zambians from their own land, leaving them destitute. Remember he who owns the land owns the country. Wake up!!!!
Of course, misplacement of villagers & the ensuing feelings of dispossession, will continue as long as locals are excluded from decision making over the land they live on. The law has to change, so that, neither Ministry of lands, nor Chiefs/villagers themselves can sell ancestral land independently without joint consultation. With this in place, at least the Chief/villagers will know what’s coming and resist or repel. The Ministry of lands should not be seen to impose so called “investors” on the villagers without due consideration & possible recourse.
#plant a tree please.