Maravi

Mwanachingwala asks govt to degazzette forest in Mazabuka

Mwanachingwala asks govt to degazzette forest in Mazabuka
By Brighton Phiri
Monday January 21, 2008 [03:00]

SOME of the villagers affected by floods are victims of internal displacement under the British colonial regime, chief Mwanachingwala of Mazabuka district has said. Speaking after visiting some flood victims camped at Mbiya Basic School in his chiefdom, chief Mwanachingwala said many people living in swampy areas of his chiefdom were thrown out of their ancestral plateau land by the British colonial government to pave way for the resettlement of their Second World War veterans.
“We are in such a situation because all our good land was taken by the Whites,” he said.

Chief Mwanachingwala asked the British government to get involved in the mobilisation of support for the flood victims in his chiefdom.

He urged the government to involve all the business firms and commercial farmers operating in Mazabuka district in mitigating the effects of the floods.

He further asked government to consider degazzetting the forest on the Mazabuka - Monze road, in order to resettle the flood victims.

He complained that Mazabuka district commissioner’s office and the Disaster Mitigation and Management unit were giving conflicting reports of the flooding in his chiefdom.

According to chief Mwanachingwala, 550 households had been affected by the floods in his chiefdom and that about 158 houses, 1,860 hectares of field were destroyed with 68 goats and 230 chickens killed by the floods that rocked his chiefdom three weeks ago.

“We don’t need to politicise or exaggerate the situation because it concerns human life,” he said.

Chief Hanjalika said his villagers lost goats and chickens through the floods. He named Chilonga, Munjile and Maunga as some of the most affected villages in his chiefdom.

Labels: CHIEF MWANACHINGWALA, FLOODS, LAND REFORM, MAZABUKA DISTRICT

posted by MrK @ 9:04 AM