Govt, Mozambique to discuss land wrangles

Govt, Mozambique to discuss land wrangles
Written by Christopher Miti in Chipata
Thursday, November 06, 2008 5:00:18 PM

FOREIGN affairs deputy minister Professor Fashion Phiri has said the government will soon send a delegation to Mozambique to discuss land wrangles between some Mozambicans and people in chieftainess Nyanje and Mwanjabanthu areas in Petauke.

Commenting on reports that Mozambicans would not allow Zambians to farm in that country during this rain season, Prof Phiri who is also Kapoche MMD member of parliament, said the government was concerned about the land problems.

“This issue is of big concern to us so we will travel to Mozambique in a short period from now to discuss the matter and we have asked the people not to go there (Mozambique) but to leave that to us so that we can solve it administratively. There are so many families in chieftainess Nyanje and Mwanjabanthu that are involved in this issue,” he said.

Prof Phiri advised Zambians not take the law into their hands but to wait for the outcome of the discussions.

“Zambia is a government of laws and we advised the people not to take the law into their hands by doing anything to the Mozambicans,” said Prof Phiri.

And Eastern Province minister Charles Shawa said the government would continue to dialogue with their Mozambican counterparts on land problems.

Shawa said he went to Malawi in May to discuss border matters between Malawi and Zambia.

He said there were some Zambians who were living in Malawi and Malawians who are also living in Zambia unknowingly.

“ Zambia and Mozambique are people of one family so we will continue discussing these things because we don’t want problems. I am aware that some Mozambicans were accessing medical services in Zambia and in Feira, some Mozambicans will be accessing electricity from our generators,” said Shawa.