Maravi

Restructuring has dislocated people - Banda

Restructuring has dislocated people - Banda
By Sandra Lombe
Sunday July 22, 2007 [04:00]

VICE-President Rupiah Banda has said economic restructuring in the country had dislocated many people. Speaking yesterday during an orientation workshop for members of parliament on the operations of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DDMU) and Department of Resettlement, Vice-President Banda said economic restructuring had led to an increase in the demand for resettlement land as people relocate due to the economic changes.

He said the Department of Resettlement was established in 1988 to facilitate allocation of land to the retired and unemployed for farming purposes.

"It is also our business to deal with displaced workers and both the unemployed youths and adults by engaging them in agriculture on land for which they have security," he said.
Vice-President Banda said resettlement was a costly activity, which demanded building necessary infrastructure on virgin land where people were to be settled.

"The provision of infrastructure in resettlement schemes is one of the greatest challenges facing the department of resettlement," he said.

Vice-President Banda said a successful resettlement scheme required good economies and social infrastructure to attract and retain would be settlers and promote economic activities for their survival.

"Settlement schemes can serve as growth nodes in the rural areas of our country. Members of parliament, you should play a big role in budget advocacy to support the construction of roads, education, and health facilities, water supply, electrification of schemes and development of communication infrastructure in resettlement schemes," he said.

He said the Department of Resettlement was managing 67 schemes in 57 constituencies in the country and that more blocks of land were being negotiated to establish other schemes.

Vice-President Banda challenged members of parliament from rural constituencies to identify areas that could be developed into settlement schemes to foster development in those areas.

And permanent secretary in the office of the Vice-President Dr Austin Sichinga asked the members of parliament to help in the resettlement programmes by advising people to plan ahead.
He said working with members of parliament was critical.

He said traditional rulers at times felt that land was being grabbed from them.
"You are the best to explain to our traditional rulers that we are not there to get the land but to bring infrastructure and development," Sichinga said.

Labels: DMMU, NEOLIBERALISM, RESETTLEMENT, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 7:51 AM