Minister of Tourism and Arts Ronald Chitotela says the government will not tolerate any illegal settlements in the protected areas such as national parks dotted across the country.
Mr Chitotela said going forward the government will not hesitate to evict illegal settlers in all protected areas.He made the sound warning today when he visited Chokomene Wildlife Camp under Lukusuzi National Park in Eastern Province.
The Tourism and Arts Minister further hailed the Department of National Parks and Wildlife working with the District Joint Operation Committee for having evicted the 233 families that were squattering in Lukusuzi National Park.Mr Chitotela explained that very soon illegal settlers in the Kafue Flats and Mumbwa Game Management Area will be evicted to restore sanity.
“We stand ready to support you officers in doing the right thing. Government values the role of Wildlife Police Officers in conservation for tourism and national development. We will not tolerate any one to stay in the protected areas and sanity will be restored,” he charged.
And Kasungu- Lukusuzi Project Coordinator Luckson Mwenya commended the government, working with GIZ for efforts made to manage, protect and safeguard game management areas.Mr Mwenya recognised the many achievements that have been made, citing staff houses, a very high frequency radio system for security, transport and several livelihood projects.Mr Mwenya further called for continuity of the project for community sustainability.
The biggest threat to wild life are connected chaps who want to capture and transfer live animals to their private game ranches without paying anything and not villagers that go to pick mushrooms from these protected areas.
I agree with you on white collar poaching! However, there are guys who are slowly taking away land as their own in the KNP Game Management Area (GMA). These are simply poachers who have encroached and eating our endangered species. If this behaviour continues, our grandchildren will never see the beauty we see in the Parks today!
IF ECL BY ANY MISFORTUNES IS BARRED FROM CONTESTING 2021 DUE T THE SO CALLED THIRD TERM BID , HON. RONALD CHITOTELA IS THE MAN TO TAKE THE MANTLE THE MAN IS VERY HARDWORKING AND FAST TO ADAPT TO A NEW WORK ENIRONMENT TACHANYA NA TOURISM BUT CHILESOPOLOLA TUMA TOURISM TERMS ..CHAUME ICHI MOVE ON HON. PAMBASHE IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE THIS MAN
While at it, please evict those that have encroached forest 27.