The theme for this year’s World Environment Day, “Accelerating Land Restoration for Drought Resilience in Zambia,” is both timely and critical. This theme underscores the importance of addressing our environmental challenges, particularly in the face of prolonged and severe droughts. The recent declaration of a national disaster by our Republican President highlights the severity of these challenges, emphasizing the urgent need for effective land restoration efforts. This declaration amplifies the urgency with which we must approach land restoration efforts to enhance our resilience to droughts, which are becoming increasingly frequent and severe due to climate change.

As a forester, my primary concern regarding the acceleration of land restoration for drought resilience in Zambia lies in the inadequate capacity within our forestry sector. Foresters, who are essential to managing and restoring forested areas, are not being employed in sufficient numbers to meet the demands of our forest concession areas. This lack of professional oversight has led to a situation where concession holders conduct forest operations without the necessary guidance from trained professionals, exacerbating environmental degradation.

Effective land restoration requires the collaboration of trained forestry personnel with other stakeholders to restore degraded forests and environments. The absence of these professionals in forest concession areas means that illegal activities such as unauthorized logging, sand mining, and artisanal mining continue unchecked, further degrading our forests and land. These activities not only reduce the capacity of our forests to act as carbon sinks and protect biodiversity but also increase the risk of wildfires, which are particularly devastating during periods of drought.

Wildfires pose a significant threat to our forests, especially during droughts when vegetation is dry and highly flammable. Without qualified personnel to implement fire management strategies, the likelihood of wildfires increases, leading to the destruction of valuable forest resources and further land degradation. It is imperative that we have trained foresters on-site to manage and prevent wildfires, thereby protecting our forests and enhancing our resilience to drought.

Another major challenge to forest restoration and drought resilience is agricultural expansion. In areas such as Shibuyunji, the practice of cutting down small trees to support gardening activities, such as tomato cultivation, is widespread. While this may seem like a small-scale activity, the cumulative impact of thousands of individuals engaging in this practice can have a significant toll on the environment and the land that supports agriculture. The removal of trees for gardening depletes the soil of nutrients, increases erosion, and reduces the land’s ability to retain water, all of which contribute to drought vulnerability.

To accelerate land restoration for drought resilience, it is crucial to address these challenges holistically. Firstly, we need to ensure that qualified and trained foresters are employed in sufficient numbers and deployed to concession areas. These professionals play a vital role in monitoring and managing forest activities, preventing illegal practices, and implementing sustainable forest management practices. By doing so, we can safeguard our forests from further degradation and enhance their ability to mitigate the impacts of drought.

Secondly, there must be a concerted effort to educate and engage local communities in sustainable land use practices. This includes promoting agroforestry and other sustainable agricultural practices that integrate tree planting and conservation with farming. By involving communities in these efforts, we can reduce the pressure on forests and encourage practices that enhance soil health, water retention, and overall landscape resilience to drought.

Furthermore, strengthening the enforcement of environmental regulations and increasing penalties for illegal activities in forest areas is essential. This will deter individuals and companies from engaging in practices that harm our forests and contribute to land degradation. Additionally, providing alternative livelihoods and economic incentives for communities that rely on unsustainable practices can help shift their activities towards more sustainable options.

In conclusion, accelerating land restoration for drought resilience in Zambia requires a multifaceted approach. It necessitates the employment and deployment of trained foresters, the engagement of local communities in sustainable practices, the enforcement of environmental regulations, and the provision of alternative livelihoods. By addressing these areas, we can restore our forests, protect our environment, and build resilience to drought, ensuring a sustainable future for Zambia. The complexity and urgency of these issues demand immediate and comprehensive action, calling for collaboration among all sectors of society to achieve our environmental and developmental goals.

Chaliafya Katungula
Advocate General
Forestry Advocacy for Communities, Communication, Transparency, Accountability and Research –

President Hakainde Hichilema and First Lady Mutinta Hichilema joined fellow mourners at the Anglican Cathedral for the funeral service of the late Dr. Sketchley Sacika, former Secretary to the Cabinet. Dr. Sacika, a distinguished civil servant known for his significant contributions to public policy and governance, was laid to rest today at Leopards Hill Memorial Park.

In his tribute, President Hichilema praised Dr. Sacika for his diligent service to the nation. He highlighted Dr. Sacika’s role in formulating progressive public policies that emphasized manpower development, professionalism, and improved service delivery. Even after retiring, Dr. Sacika remained a valuable source of counsel for current leaders.

“Our appeal to public service workers is to emulate his humility, hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment to serving our great nation,” President Hichilema said. He extended sincere condolences to Dr. Sacika’s family, wishing them God’s comfort and strength during this difficult time.

Former Cabinet Minister William Harrington, representing the family, described Dr. Sacika as a lover of peace who opposed violence. Mr. Harrington recounted his long-standing relationship with Dr. Sacika, dating back to their childhood in the mid-1950s in Senanga.

“I have personally known Dr. Sacika since our childhood days. He did not believe in violence to resolve disputes, always advocating for legal and non-violent methods,” Mr. Harrington said. He also mentioned Dr. Sacika’s efforts to propose legislation to address the needs of former Secretaries to the Cabinet.

Dr. Sacika passed away on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at Maina Soko Military Medical Centre in Lusaka at the age of 85. His death is particularly poignant for his family, coming less than a year after the passing of his wife.

The funeral service and burial were attended by numerous dignitaries, reflecting the high regard in which Dr. Sacika was held. His legacy of service and dedication to Zambia remains an inspiration to many.

Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa’s President has admitted his African National Congress (ANC) party has suffered a challenging election result, after the party lost its majority for the first time since apartheid ended 30 years ago.

The ANC, once led by Nelson Mandela, won 159 seats in the 400-seat parliament in Wednesday’s election, down from 230 in the previous assembly.

Mr Ramaphosa still described the results as a victory for democracy, calling on rival parties to find common ground – apparently preparing for coalition talks.

The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party has said it is open to coalition talks with Mr Ramaphosa, but it opposes a number of his government’s key priorities.

With all the votes counted, the ANC finished on 40% – down from 58% at the previous election, the electoral commission announced on Sunday.

This was lower than the party’s feared worst-case scenario of 45%, analysts said. The ANC now must go into a coalition to form the next government.

“Our people have spoken, whether we like it or not, they have spoken,” Mr Ramaphosa said.

“As the leaders of political parties, as all those who occupy positions of responsibility in society, we have heard the voices of our people and we must respect their wishes.”

He added that the voters wanted the parties to find common ground.

“Through their votes, they have demonstrated clearly and plainly that our democracy is strong and it is enduring,” he said.

South Africa’s political parties have two weeks to work out a coalition deal, then the new parliament will sit to choose a president.

The centre-right DA remains the second-largest party in parliament with 87 seats, and has said it is open to talks of a coalition.

“We urge all others who love our constitution and all it represents to set aside petty politics and narrow sectarian interests and join hands now,” DA leader John Steenhuisen said.

However, his party opposes two of the ANC’s key priorities – its black empowerment policies, which aim to giving black people a stake in the economy following their exclusion during the racist apartheid era, and the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, which promises universal healthcare for all.

The ANC has said both policies are non-negotiable in coalition talks.

Former president Jacob Zuma, who now leads the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party that came third with 58 seats, did not attend the results announcement and had suggested that he might challenge them.

The MK has said it would be prepared to work with the ANC, but not while it was led by Mr Ramaphosa.

He replaced Mr Zuma as both president and ANC leader following a bitter power struggle in 2018.

In a BBC interview, Patrick Gaspard, who was the US ambassador to South Africa in 2013-16, described the two politicians as “sworn enemies”.

Earlier on Sunday, Mr Zuma called for an election rerun and said the electoral commission should not announce the final results.

On Saturday, he warned the commission that it would “be provoking us” if it ignored his demand for a fresh election, and for an independent investigation into his party’s claims that it was rigged.

“Don’t start trouble when there is no trouble,” he said.

There are now concerns over how Mr Zuma’s supporters may respond to the results.

The 82-year-old has been the political wildcard in this election – and he is preparing to flex his muscles as the kingmaker in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, where the MK party has wrestled a huge chunk of votes from the ANC.

Formed just a few months ago, results show that for the national election, it has taken the largest share of the vote in the province – 44% to the ANC’s 19%.

Local issues could have been a big factor in that shift, with some community members turning their backs on the ANC party because it had failed to fix acute water shortages.

Parts of the province, such as Trenance Park, which is a mere 20 minutes’ drive from the main city of Durban, have had no tap water for 10 months.

Residents rely on water tankers that sometimes do not deliver water on time.

People in KwaZulu-Natal hope that now the election is over, the problem will be fixed for good.

Earlier, South Africa’s police chief warned that threats to destabilise the country would not be tolerated.
“There cannot be any room for threats of instability in order to register objections or concerns about the electoral processes,” Police Minister Bheki Cele said at a news conference.

The ANC has always polled above 50% since the country’s first democratic elections in 1994, which saw Nelson Mandela become president.

But support for the party has been dropping significantly because of anger over high levels of corruption, unemployment and crime.

“There are tens of millions of young people in that country who are called the Born Free generation, born after 1994 after the end of apartheid, and they feel that their country underwent a political transformation, but not an economic one,” Mr Gaspard told the BBC.

He added that back in 2015 “it was already becoming abundantly clear that there was a downward trajectory for the ANC because it was failing to deliver on essential services in the country”, specifically mentioning rolling blackouts.