Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) Chipata slashed maize victims to be compensated

Chipata slashed maize victims to be compensated
January 9, 2009

People whose maize was slashed on hill slopes in Chipata district on Wednesday will be compensated. Chipata Central Member of Parliament, Lameck Mangani confirmed the development in a telephone interview. Mr. Mangani said that the Chipata District Disaster Management Committee will go to the hills and assess the damage to see how the affected families can be assisted, although he did not disclose the kind of aid to be provided.

The MP, who is also Lusaka Province Minister, however, warned that the move to assist the affected families is not an acknowledgement that people should continue cultivating on the hill slopes.

Mr. Mangani said that cultivating on hill slopes contributes to land degradation. He said that this is because the hills are left bare resulting in heavy current of water from the hill slopes, damaging property and roads in the townships.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mangani has condemned the move by the residents to stone his building in Nabvutika compound in protest against the council’s action.

The MP said that it was also unfortunate that the residents had intentions to go and slash maize at the republican president, Rupiah Banda’s farm along the Chipata-Mfuwe road.

He strongly condemned the action by the grieved residents, saying people should not take the law into their hands. The residents on Wednesday took to the street stoning the building belonging to Mr. Mangani, a shop for Nabvutika Area Chairman for Zone 3, Dauzen Mwanza and a house belonging to Chipata mayor Sinoya Mwale.

This was in protest against the move by the council to slash their maize planted on the hill slopes. The slashing of maize has also sparked confusion between the mayor and the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy, MMD’s leadership, with the mayor facing disciplinary action.

ENDS/HN/PK/ZANIS

Labels: CHIPATA, LAMECK MANGANI, MAIZE, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 5:57 PM