Government sources land for ‘ stubborn’ Mumba GMA illegal settlers

Government has sourced land to settle 1,011 households who illegally settled in the Mumbwa Game Management area (GMA).

A team of ministers led by Chiefs and Traditional Affairs minister Prof. Nkandu Luo convinced the traditional leadership in Chibombo and Mumbwa districts respectively to give the land to settle the villagers.

Prof. Luo’s team which included Tourism minister Jean Kapata, lands Minister Mwansa Kapeya, Central Province Minister Obvious Mwaliteta and his Permanent Secretary Edwidge Mutale, sought land from two traditional rulers Chief Kaindu of Mumbwa and his Chibombo counterpart, chief Chitanda for the land.

Chief Kaindu offered 11, 528ha while chief Chitanda gave out 6, 345 hector of land along the boundaries of the two chiefdoms, totaling to 17, 873hectors , respectively.

Speaking in at the event in Mumbwa District , today, , Prof. Luo said government was grateful to the traditional leaders’ offer of their land to the affected the families .

Prof. Luo said her ministry was relieved that the affected families who were not keen to move from the GMA even when government earlier found land for them elsewhere had accepted to relocate.

She said the illegal settlers, will have to move out before the onset of rain and directed the local authority in Mumbwa to immediately start preparing the area.

And Tourism minister Jean Kapata , says the continued poaching in the area was a threat to tourism in Zambia.
Ms. Kapata explained that it was saddening to note that people who encroach into game management areas claiming to be farmers, were actually killing wild animals.

She said there were more than 9,000 households leaving in GMAs country wide who, claiming to be peasant farmers were robbing government of revenue through poaching.