Monday, February 20, 2012

(LUSAKATIMES) Government denies an individual investor 20, 000 hectares given to him by a local Chief

COMMENT - There has to be an agency that stands between anyone walking up to a chief and walking away with the right to 'buy' 20,000 hectares. There is too much poverty to 'leave it to the market'. That's a recipe for highway robbery.

Government denies an individual investor 20, 000 hectares given to him by a local Chief
TIME PUBLISHED - Sunday, February 19, 2012, 1:30 pm

Government says it will only give 1,000 hectares of land to Jan Wessy Jacob Boatha, an investor who was allegedly given 20,000 hectares of land by Chief Kaindu of Mumbwa district in Central province for the purpose of game ranching. And Chief Kaindu has denied receiving K50 Million down payment from the K500 Million cost of the land that extends across Kafue river allegedly sold to Mr Boatha.

Central Province Permanent Secretary Edwin ZUMBUNU told ZANIS in Kabwe yesterday that government could not give a huge chunk of land amounting to 20,000 hectares to one person because this was too much.

Mr Zumbunu said out of the 20,00 hectares the investor required, only 1,000 hectares will be offered to him while 19, 000 hectares will be given back to the people in the area so that they could continue with their life set up.

He further explained that after consultations and verifications, part of the land would be given back to the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) to also continue managing wild life.

Mr Zumbunu pointed out that 1, 000ha would be big enough for Mr Boatha to keep wild animals and allow the other part be used by the local people for cultivation and other activities.

And Chief Kaindu said it was not true that he was given K50 Million by Mr Boatha as down payment from the alleged K500 Million cost of the 20,000ha of land.

Chief Kaindu told ZANIS that the matter was exaggerated by a Ward Councilor in his chiefdom who allegedly instigated villagers to protest and petition government through the then Mumbwa District Commissioner Lemmy Chibuye.

Chief Kaindu who was accompanied by Mumbwa District Commissioner Sunday Shamabanse, accused the named Ward Councilor of trying to cause confusion by making unsubstantiated allegations.

He said Mr Boatha was in fact just interested in working with the Mpusu community by providing funds for developmental community based projects which would ease people lives in the chiefdom.

“Boatha want to assist with funds for development in my area which he would deposit in a development account. This money would not be given to me, I will not even see this money because it will go straight into an account to which I will be a signatory,’ Explained Chief Kaindu.

But in November last year, Mpusu villagers complained to government that Chief Kaindu was allegedly selling land without consulting his subjects.

The villagers were concerned because the size of the land in question which they said extended across Kafue river and included part of the game management area.

ZANIS



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Saturday, February 18, 2012

Chingola PF councillors differ with mayor over plots

Chingola PF councillors differ with mayor over plots
By Mwila Chansa-Ntambi in Kitwe
Sat 18 Feb. 2012, 11:59 CAT

IT had to take the intervention of Rebby Chanda, the Patriotic Front Copperbelt Province chairperson, to thwart Chingola PF councillors' attempt to impeach their mayor Ventor Kalebaila for allegedly not giving them plots, The Post understands.

According to well-placed sources in Chingola, PF councillors were up against Kalebaila and had even collected signatures to the effect that he should be impeached for not only failing to give them plots but also allegedly siding with management on a number of issues.

The sources disclosed that Chanda counselled the councillors against impeaching the mayor on trivial grounds because the mayor was just a law-abiding citizen who was following the law in the discharge of his civic duties.

The source added that some PF councillors in Chingola were after plots as could be evidenced by the disagreements that had began emerging in some wards in the district over illegal allocation of plots.

"The councillors are saying the mayor is not giving them plots and that he is weak because he is siding with management, so they wanted to impeach him. But the mayor insisted that the councillors should also follow the same process other citizens are subjected to; as in plots should be advertised and then people should apply," the source said.

"Recently, there was even a meeting at Chingola Basic School on instruction of the provincial chairman to the district officials to discuss the same issue. The councillors were told that the mayor is on the right path."

When contacted, Chanda confirmed his intervention in the disagreements over plots.

"That's right. You can't know, maybe it's overzealousness on the part of our people councillors," Chanda said.

Chanda added that Chingola residents expected a lot from the councillors in terms of addressing the many social challenges the district was faced with and not fights over plots.

He however said all the issues had been resolved.

Chanda said plans were underway to sensitise the councillors on the duties of a civic leader.

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Saturday, March 12, 2011

NAPSA has failed to set record straight - Lubinda

NAPSA has failed to set record straight - Lubinda
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sat 12 Mar. 2011, 04:01 CAT

GIVEN Lubinda has disputed NAPSA’s claims that it had made futile efforts to acquire land from Lusaka City Council (LCC).

And Lubinda, who is Kabwata member of parliament, demanded that NAPSA release the valuation report that was undertaken and presented by the independent valuers referred to in the parastatal's advertisement.

In his letter dated March 9, 2011 to National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) director general, Lubinda stated that in the past 10 years that he had been a councillor in Lusaka, he had not come across an application from NAPSA for a piece of land for housing development.

“To the best of my knowledge even at the time when Lusaka City Council advertised plots at the prestigious Baobab land along Kafue Road, NAPSA did not make an application,” Lubinda stated.

“May you kindly furnish me with dates when you made such applications and what responses you got from the Lusaka City Council to justify your statement that you have made futile efforts to acquire land through the local authority.”

Lubinda stated that NAPSA's efforts to 'set the record straight' on NAPSA-Meanwood land transaction had failed because the parastatal company's statement through advertisement had raised more questions than it had answered.

He stated that the matter was not whether or not NAPSA was approached by The Post to seek clarification.

“What is undeniable is that there is a transaction between NAPSA and Meanwood on the purchase of 1, 500 acres of land at an exorbitant price of US $15 million. There is certainly no contention on this matter,” Lubinda stated.

“Killing the messenger will not kill the message. The transaction shall exist whether The Post verifies with you or not. What is required is an explanation as to why this transaction was sanctioned and by whom not whether or not The Post newspapers sought clarifications before publishing it.”

Lubinda observed that in its advertisement, NAPSA stated that the management procurement committee was mandated to bear on such matters until the release of circular on January 24, 2011, which introduced a committee to take over the functions of the Central Tender Committee.

Lubinda demanded that NAPSA produces documentation to show the mandate from the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA).

“In addition, please indicate the legal framework under which the ZPPA introduced an adhoc committee to take over the functions of the Central Tender Committee which is a creation of an Act of Parliament. Note that the Public Procurement Act (PPA) No. 12 of 2008 does not have such a provision,” he stated.

“You argue that NAPSA has made investments in other places including Levy Business Park, Nyumba Yanga Housing Project, Kalulushi Housing Project, MKP Estates and Northgate Gardens and that in all these transactions the President did not influence your decision.”

Lubinda demanded that to enable members of the public to make informed conclusions, NAPSA would have to state how much and to whom the firm paid per unit of the said pieces of land.

He stated that a comparison of the unit costs of the stated pieces of land would provide some explanations and might show whether or not there was an external influence on the Ibex Hill transaction.

He stated that the fact that NAPSA ought to make prudent investment decisions to grow the people's pension funds was undisputable.

“However, it cannot be acceptable that NAPSA funds - members' savings - should be exposed to procuring properties including land at prices that are above the average prevailing prices,” Lubinda stated.

“A price of US$ 10,000 per acre of unserviced land in Ibex Hill cannot be considered an average price not even in comparison to prices offered by Meanwood to individual developers. May you also kindly confirm that NAPSA has already made payments towards the transaction,” stated Lubinda.

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Sunday, March 06, 2011

(MONITOR UGANDA) Council recovers River Nile land from investor

Council recovers River Nile land from investor
By Abubaker Kirunda (email the author)
Posted Sunday, March 6 2011 at 00:00

Jinja Municipal Council has recovered part of the source of the Nile land that had allegedly been sold to an investor. The land, measuring seven acres near the golf course on Bridge Street, had been allocated to Black Eagles Investment by the district land board in 2008 amidst protest by the municipal council, which was the sitting tenant.

The municipal council authorities argued that as the sitting tenants, the land board was to consult them prior to giving out the land which they had already gazetted as a leisure park in the town plan.

The leisure park called Chairman’s Park was given to the investor at a premium of Shs80 million which was paid to the municipal treasury. On realising that the council was denied this land, it sought intervention from the Ministry of Lands which ordered them to refund the premium to the investor who unfortunately had no physical address.

Land title given

However, during a council meeting on Thursday, the acting Jinja town clerk, Mr Jeforum Waidhuba, said the Ministry of Lands has issued a land title for this land in the names of Jinja Municipal Council.

“I would like to announce that the land title for Jinja Central Market and the Chairman’s Park land at the source of the Nile have been given to us therefore any developments we make on them is secure,” Mr Waidhuba said.

He said an application has also been made by the municipal council to cancel the land title which had been issued in the name of Black Eagles. He also said council would within two weeks start re-locating vendors in Jinja Central Market to create room for the start of its re-construction.

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Saturday, January 22, 2011

(LUSAKATIMES) Lusaka City Council suspended over plots

Lusaka City Council suspended over plots
Saturday, January 22, 2011, 8:54

THE Lusaka City Council (LCC) has been suspended with immediate effect. The council will remain suspended for 90 days and Government has appointed Solomon Finandi Sakala, the Copperbelt Provincial Local Government officer as the administrator.

Minister of Local Government and Housing, Brian Chituwo announced the suspension of the council yesterday following reports that the local authority has been involved in some land allocation scams.

Dr Chituwo said at a media briefing that Government has decided to suspend LCC to pave way for investigations into the alleged illegal land allocation.

The Lusaka City Council has been accused of illegally allocating land to itself without following the law governing the allocation of land.

Out of 102 plots, the councillors got 45 plots, 10 plots were given to the Mayor while the deputy Mayor got five plots and members of the public were only allocated 11 plots.

“In order to understand the matter, my office requested for a written report from the local authority. The report forwarded to my office by the council does not give much detail on who allocated the plots and how the beneficiaries were picked,” Dr Chituwo said.

Dr Chituwo said he would soon appoint a committee to audit the allocation of land in Lilayi.

He said the piece of land in Lilayi that is alleged to have been shared among the Mayor, his deputy and councillors is titled and should have been advertised. Dr Chituwo said the council did not even bother to seek authority from the ministry as stipulated by law.

“Therefore, it has become necessary for the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to suspend the Lusaka City Council in accordance with the Local Government Act, Cap 281 of the laws of Zambia to pave way for investigations into the Lilayi land allocation,” he said.

Dr Chituwo said the council should have realised the importance of seeking authority from his office to allocate plots on the piece of land in question. He said his office should have authorised the council to deal with the piece of land in terms of transfer, disposal or even in the mode of exchange or swapping.

Dr Chituwo said it is the understanding of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing that any proposed allocation of land should be done through the Plans, Works and Development Committee.

“In order to understand the matter, my office requested for a written report from the local authority. The report forwarded to my office by the council does not give much detail on who allocated the plots and how the beneficiaries were picked,” Dr Chituwo said.

He said the council failed to explicitly state how it decided to allocate councilors one plot each.

The Minister wondered whether it has been the trend that the Mayor and his councillors should have a lion’s share of plots each time there was a piece of land earmarked for allocation.

“I as Minister of Local Government and Housing hereby announce the suspension of the council for 90 days through the statutory instrument number 11 of 2011and appoint Mr Solomon Finandi Sakala, who is Copperbelt Provincial Local Government Officer as administrator,” Dr Chituwo said.

“As a council, we presented our report and we maintain that whatever was done, we followed the law. The general public will judge us after the investigations,” Mr Chisenga said.

But Lusaka Mayor Daniel Chisenga has maintained that the allocation of land in Lilayi was done in accordance with the law.

Mr Chisenga said the public will have to judge the council after all the investigations have been done and the report on the investigations released.

He said the council welcomes the investigations as it has encountered investigations in the past and all officers found wanting had been dealt with according to the law.

“As a council, we presented our report and we maintain that whatever was done, we followed the law. The general public will judge us after the investigations,” Mr Chisenga said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

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Thursday, January 28, 2010

(TALKZIMBABWE) We must claim our land

We must claim our land
Anthia aka Radiogal - We must claim our land
Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:47:00 +0000

WHO is looking out for the people of Zimbabwe? The problem may lie with the fact that we ourselves are unaware of our heritage. We are a nation that lost so much ever since the first white settlers moved in and claimed a land that was already occupied by people and named it Rhodesia.

It was since then that we were sidelined and are continually sidelined in doing what is best for our own people -- the millions of Zimbabweans who have no say in what happens. A further million does not pay in to help the country and we help block indigenous business owners, yet revel in the takeover by foreign investors.

I am appalled that the MDC-T party has power over some sanctions that have been set up against our people.

Though they themselves refer to them as ‘restrictions on some of the Zanu PF members’ they fail to look at the bigger picture. How are we portrayed as a nation to the rest of the world if we show weakness within our leadership?

If you search for images of Zimbabwe on the google search engine; the first image is that of a black man with open wounds on his back. The next is of a group of people rioting on the streets. What do these pictures say about us? Are we vicious and violent as a people?

So why is that image there? Why don’t I see a picture of the several beggars and crackheads when I type in Britain on google, yet they are everywhere.

The untamed yobs that beat up elderly people, stab people over their phones or smash neighbours windows just because they can are never shown yet this is part of the picture of the United Kingdom.

My people have been blind for so long. If they want to show pictures of abuse in Zimbabwe, why don’t they show the ones from ‘Rhodesia’?

Why don’t they speak about how a black person, an indigenous dweller of that country was not allowed to enter certain areas, could not sit in certain places let alone look or breathe in the direction of a ‘superior race’.

Am I the only one who finds it ridiculous that sanctions are put on our country by the very people who colonised us in the first place?

Does anyone understand the term independence? Do people realise why the war was fought?

Does anyone understand the significance of April 18th 1980? It was supposed to be the day that our lives as Zimbabweans officially began. The day in which a new journey would begin where what had been wrongfully taken from us was to be returned.

For those who do not understand consider this analogy: You buy a stolen car and have all the paperwork now put in your name. If the police where to come to you and claim the car back because it was stolen would that make it your car?

No. It wouldn’t. Yes maybe you were misled, but the fact remains that it isn’t yours.

So those who feel that the white commercial farmers are the rightful owners of the land should consider the fact that it was never theirs in the first place.

So much blood was shed so that Zimbabwe could have that freedom.

Yes the land may not go back to the exact owner which is something that is beyond all our control either for you see when the land was taken people were displaced from their homes just like the American Indians no one knows exactly who owes what, but let the spirits of those who fought hard to get it back rest as long as it is in our hands.

Pay attention to detail, we cannot have a leader who is ready and willing to put up his country, his people, his identity, his heritage, inheritance up for collateral to the very people who caused us grief that is still ongoing!

_____________
*Anthia aka Radiogal writes from the United Kingdom. She can be contacted via: radiogal **** hotmail.co.uk

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(TALKZIMBABWE) Reparations on land key to reconciliation in Zimbabwe




Reparations on land key to reconciliation in Zimbabwe
Dambudzo Mapuranga - Reparations on land key to reconciliation in Zimbabwe
Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:31:00 +0000

THE jostling by political parties over points to be considered and included in the new constitution is based on political ambitions and power struggles by political elites. The history of Zimbabwe which should serve as a guide in the formulation of a new constitution has been sidelined as fly-by-night issues are prioritized as a means to divert the attention of the ordinary Zimbabwean from one of the most important issues that needs to be addressed in present day Zimbabwe: Land.

Over the past five years, historians have noted with great concern revisionist efforts by right wing opinion makers to rewrite the history of Zimbabwe.

There has been a blatant movement that seeks to discredit the War of Liberation and characterize war veterans, collaborators and supporters as terrorists, misfits and troublemakers with no education or purpose in life.

Newspapers, magazines, social forums, the internet and television programmes have been bombarded by former Rhodies and their apologists who glorify their criminal exploits against freedom fighters.

The wrongly labeled independent press has jumped on the bandwagon in order to pocket profits that come from supporting this movement and has gone on to even provide dubious witnesses who rubbish the War of Liberation, the role played by Zanla, Zipra and their respective political parties in order to achieve black
majority rule.

Apologists of Rhodesia have found shelter in this independent press where they are called “analysts” and spread their gospel of deceit as facts.

As Zimbabweans gear to make presentations on what their constitution should say, it is important to take note of the fact that what they fail to get addressed this year will never be addressed, but will add to what already is in the rubbish heap of Zimbabwe’s political failures.

Land is key to the future of Zimbabwe.

The history of land in Zimbabwe has been trivialized to an extent where the debate is one sided.

The desensitization of land as a means of production of the black Zimbabwean has been remarkably successful. It is sad that the present generation of “born frees” has fallen hook, line and sinker for the lie that they are incapable of farming and need the white farmer to farm food for them.

While across the globe indigenous people are fighting to get their land back in order to empower themselves, in Zimbabwe many blacks are fighting to have the land reoccupied by white farmers because they have been told that “farming is for whites, blacks can never be self-sufficient and have to work for some one never themselves”.

One begins to think there is a conspiracy to disassociate the black Zimbabwean from his heritage.

Land as a means of livelihood takes a backbench and the media has reframed priorities leading people to believe that freedom of speech, gay rights, limited presidential power, will somehow translate into healthy well rounded Zimbabweans.

With all its freedoms, America remains on top of the list of countries whose indigenous people continue to live in abject poverty. New Zealand and Australia follow closely.

Funny enough these states, which are former settler colonies of Britain, take a cue from their mother and continue to oppress and fight against any form of reparations to those they colonized and dispossessed.

Reparation is a dirty word if it is used in the same sentence with the words, black, Indian, Aborigine, Maori.

The greatest case for reparations put across has been for that of slavery and yet those culpable have managed to sow seeds of discord, manipulate the argument for reparations and to the outrage of the African American Reparations Movement, blame slavery on Africans.

Companies, institutions and families that benefited from slavery continue to prosper and are among the most respected in the world and yet they refuse to apologize and restitute the descendants of slaves.

Aetna wrote life insurance policies on the lives of enslaved Africans with slave owners and traders as beneficiaries.

The British Monarchy, which was the authority at the time, made huge profits through commissions and taxes. Brown University whose founding family gets its name from was a major slave trader. JP Morgan Chase and Wachovia both have connections to the slave trade. These are but a few of the companies, institutions and families who benefited from slavery.

Many of these institutions, states and families that amassed great wealthrefuse to accept responsibility for their crimes and injustices. Instead they are on the forefront of funding think-tanks to come up with papers that cleanse them of any wrongdoing. One such think-tank went so far as to say paying reparations for colonialism and slavery would increase racism in America.

The legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. has been reduced to a mere holiday to give lip service to a black icon that was murdered for his fight for black freedom.

White institutions turn a blind eye to everything that King said except the part that serves their interests, which is that of a color-blind non-segregated America.

They forget that Dr. King demanded social changes and economic opportunities for African Americans and addressed the issue of reparations that the white community has failed to uphold.

In Zimbabwe the debate on property rights, which the white farmers have monopolized, fails to take into context the history of land in Zimbabwe.

In 2001 the Sub Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights adopted unanimously a resolution on recognition of responsibility and reparation for the massive and flagrant violations of human rights that constituted crimes against humanity that took place during the slavery and colonial period.

The Sub Commission requested that all countries concerned take initiatives that would assist their former colonies notably through the provision of truthful information, which would enable the guarantee of the implementation of this resolution.

At this point Britain and her Queen should have steeped down for their holier than thou snob pedestal and sought to make peace with Zimbabwe.

The Rudd Concession is an example of the extent of British duplicity; they intentionally and willfully cheated King Lobengula. The Rudd Concession was a means to an end, the Charter.

The British Monarchy should acknowledge that it allowed for Rhodes, Rudd and their associates to first steal and then legalize their theft of Zimbabwe.

Blacks in Zimbabwe were dispossessed of land and waters and livelihoods and the Government of the United Kingdom should pay compensation to Zimbabwe for those lands and resources and also pay the remnants of its settler colony that today refuse, like their American counterparts, to accept the consequence of their fathers' actions and their immoral legacy denying the fact that what they claim as property is in fact stolen property.

On top of this, Britain should pay twenty (20%) of the value of all the goods produced and extracted from the resources of Zimbabwe since 1890. This compensation is not enough, but will be a road to reconciliation of who we are as Zimbabweans. The psychological effects of war, conquest and racism on Zimbabweans are too great to measure but remain a fact.

The assassination of our character of “Ubuntu” by the introduction of a value system that rewards greed, corruption, and individualism is a crime that dehumanized us and today this value system continues to feed on many in society.

As Zimbabweans move towards a new constitution, they should recognize their strengths and weaknesses and embrace them so that at the end of the constitution-making process they have a home-made constitution which future generations can identify with.

Zimbabwe’s constitution should not be like that of America whose constitution was written by a few learned white men who spoke of “all men are created equal under God” and yet these men not only owned other humans as slaves, they denied women the right to own property and justice was only for white men who owned land and had money.

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Sunday, January 17, 2010

(BBC) Senegal offers land to Haitians

Senegal offers land to Haitians

Abdoulaye Wade said Haitians could "return to their origin"

Senegal's president says he will offer free land and "repatriation" to people affected by the earthquake in Haiti.

President Abdoulaye Wade said Haitians were sons and daughters of Africa since Haiti was founded by slaves, including some thought to be from Senegal.

"The president is offering voluntary repatriation to any Haitian that wants to return to their origin," said Mr Wade's spokesman, Mamadou Bemba Ndiaye.

Tuesday's earthquake killed tens of thousands and left many more homeless.

Buildings have been reduced to rubble, the distribution of aid is slow, and people have been flooding out of the devastated capital, Port-au-Prince.

"Senegal is ready to offer them parcels of land - even an entire region. It all depends on how many Haitians come," Mr Bemba Ndiaye said.

"If it's just a few individuals, then we will likely offer them housing or small pieces of land. If they come en masse we are ready to give them a region."

The spokesman emphasised that if a region was given, it would be in a fertile part of the country rather than in its parched deserts, the Associated Press news agency reported.

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Friday, December 11, 2009

Daka urges increased value addition to land allocated for business purposes

Daka urges increased value addition to land allocated for business purposes
By Florence Bupe
Fri 11 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT

LANDS minister Peter Daka has urged increased value addition to land allocated for business purposes. In an interview, Daka said his ministry would not hesitate to give large portions of land to investors who showed willingness to develop such land for the benefit of the national economy.

“We have given land title deeds to companies like Zambeef because they have proved they are able to add value to this land. We will not hesitate to give out more land to people that demonstrate the ability to add value in terms of job creation and increased productivity,” he said.

Daka said the ministry had introduced incentives through the decentralised branches in the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to ensure that land was prudently allocated and utilised. He also warned that officers found to be dishonest in land allocation issues would be sternly dealt with.

“We want to be sure that Zambians at large have confidence in the people entrusted to handle their land issues. We need clear and prudent systems in place,” Daka said. “The Ministry of Lands will ensure that the people are served accordingly.”

Daka said with the use of land development funds, the ministry should see a more efficient land allocation and development system.

“We have put facilities in place to encourage efficiency in land management. We have a K15 billion facility aimed at encouraging the opening up of new areas away from the main city centres, and our first step has been the construction of ring roads in some parts of the country,” he said.

Daka said the lands ministry was working with the local government ministry to uplift the outlook of cities across the country through the erection of more modern structures.

“We are looking forward to a time when we will lift off compounds and put up better but affordable structures for an improved outlook of our cities,” said Daka.

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Friday, November 20, 2009

(HERALD) Make farm leases bankable

Make farm leases bankable

THE 99-year leases for farms allocated under the Land Reform Programme have been attacked for being non-transferable by sale, voluntary or forced, and thus rendered useless as collateral for loans.

On the other hand, those who dislike having such leases made saleable say experience in other countries suggests that rich people and banks end up owning vast swathes of land, and we will be right back where we started, with a small minority holding the bulk of the best land.

The only difference is that this minority will not be an ethnic one, but that will not be much use to the person seeking land of their own to farm.

We believe that transferability, within a system of rules, can create two totally desirable outcomes and one outcome that some would consider useful, depending on what side of the political divide they want to sit.

We need to remember that there are more potential farmers and modest-sized farms than there is land to satisfy them.

This potential "buyers market" can make limited transferability work.

Most farmers need to borrow money and need some collateral besides the crop in the ground. Only farmers with a superb track record, and that very record implies they have earned quite a bit of their own money and so need less in loans, can have much hope of loans for land preparation and planting.

More farmers can probably borrow for harvesting a crop already in the ground, since a lender can actually see the offered collateral.

But most farmers, besides short-term seasonal loans, also need long-term capital loans to put in irrigation, build dams, erect the incredible amount of fencing modern stock management demands, build tobacco barns, greenhouses and coldrooms, or install modern dairy equipment.

And traditionally farmers getting such loans have had to leave their title deeds or long leases in the safes of the bankers.

So a major upgrade of our agriculture is unlikely until these leases are made transferable on sale.

We can, however, avoid the danger of rich men buying up all the land by insisting on a policy of "one man, one farm". The only people permitted to buy leases would be those without any land, or those wishing to move from communal lands to a larger farm, or from an A1 farm to an A2 farm, and who were willing to surrender or sell the old farm.

The double policy of transferability but within a limit, would create the two outcomes almost everyone would consider desirable: availability of collateral and the creation of a large rural middle class. Collateral would allow capital development and land reform would be meaningless if it led to a tiny rich land-holding minority and a huge population of landless labourers.

We believe that there would be another useful outcome, the replacement of inefficient farmers and people with leases but no real desire for full- time farming with efficient and dedicated farmers. We do not believe that it is essential to retain the initial grantees of land on the farms, so long as they are replaced by other landless people willing to use the land better.

The limited transferability would also allow good farmers to sell out when they wished to retire, if no one in their immediate family was willing or capable of taking over the farm. In other words, a family could realise its profits.

There will always be a new generation ready and willing to buy into these farms, admittedly on borrowed money using the leases as collateral.

Every year we graduate a new batch of highly-trained higher diploma students from three colleges associated with the University of Zimbabwe; many will want to farm in their own right and know how to do it.

The communal lands have a continual flow of young men and women who have qualified as master farmers, and can cope and need to cope with a far larger farm than the standard communal plot.

Failing as a farmer is always sad; but land reform was not instituted as a social security scheme or as a source of weekend cottages.

There are far cheaper ways of fulfilling those goals.

It was designed to promote a far fairer system of land holding, and to improve productivity by giving efficient farmers the access to land they needed.

A dual policy of full transferability of leases, along with "one person one farm" will retain both elements.

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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

(LUSAKATIMES) RB- addresses Zambians in New York

RB- addresses Zambians in New York
Tuesday, September 22, 2009

President Rupiah Banda says land management and the distribution of land by Zambians living in the diaspora is one of the biggest challenges government is currently facing.

Addressing scores of Zambians living in New York last evening, President Banda said Zambian citizens should acquire land and develop them.

He said government was devising ways of easing the process of acquiring land, especially by Zambians living abroad.

He said he has since advised the Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane and the Minister of Lands Peter Daka to find ways of making the process of acquiring land uncumbersome.

President Banda said land was very valuable hence Zambians, regardless of where they live, should acquire pieces of land for agriculture and other investment.

He urged Zambians living abroad who wish to apply for land to specify where they would want to acquire land.

And President Banda has asked Zambians in the diaspora to consider investing in their country and return home after their various adventures and other activities.

He said he has opened an office at State House which receives specific requests and concerns of the many Zambians in the diaspora.

The President said Zambians should remain patriotic regardless of what they were doing in foreign countries because they would in future return to their country of origin.

He said South Korea was today an economically successful country because its citizens that once lived in the diaspora were patriotic enough to invest back home in terms of education, technology and skill. [They also have a nationalistic government, that insists on Korean ownership of the economy - MrK]

“South Korea is now a developed country because Koreans that were living here in America, in the Silicon Valley on the west coast decided to go back home and apply the knowledge they had in their country. So you can do the same,” he said.

President Banda reminded Zambians in America and other foreign countries to return home and apply their knowledge and invest their moneys back in their country.

“I am very confident that our country will develop if we remain united and manage our resources together in a very good manner,” he said.

He reiterated that the Zambian economy was now doing well because of the sound economic policies and good governance implemented by the late President Mwanawasa in the last eight years.

He said although Zambia was affected by the ongoing global economic crisis, the country managed to keep companies and industries running.

Mr. Banda said only Luanshya Mine was closed for a short period of time but has since been reopened, with 1500 people getting back their jobs.

He said the copper prices that had dwindled by about 70 per cent have since started going high again, an indicator that would make it regain its economic stamina.

President Banda said government was diversifying the economy to reduce dependency on copper alone.

He said to this effect, government was encouraging direct foreign investment to help improve the economy of the country.

Earlier at the same function, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kabinga Pande urged Zambians living abroad to continue behaving in a manner that is acceptable to the country they live in.

Mr. Pande said Zambians have been known to be law abiding citizens even in foreign countries.

President Banda is in New York to attend the 64th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN), which officially opens on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009.

On the sidelines of the main General Assembly, President Banda will hold bilateral meetings with selected heads of state and government.

President Banda will on Wednesday be among hundreds of high level delegates at the UN Secretariat for the general debate in which heads of state and government will address the General Assembly.

The President will deliver Zambia’s national statement to the assembly on Thursday 24th September during the continued high-level general debate, which ends on 30th September.

President Banda is also expected to meet US President Barak Obama who will meet heads of state and government from the sub-Saharan African region to discuss the relationship between this region and the United States of America.

Other items on the agenda for President Banda in New York are meeting Zambians leaving in the United States of America (USA), American business community and attending meetings by the Africa Travel Association and the Clinton HIV/AIDS Foundation.

Mr. Banda will during the meeting with the American business community, showcase Zambia’s investment potential in many economic sectors in order to lure foreign investors to do business in the country.

He said he has since advised the Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane and the Minister of Lands Peter Daka to find ways of making the process of acquiring land uncumbersome. President Banda said land was very valuable hence Zambians, regardless of where they live, should acquire pieces of land for agriculture and other investment.
President Rupiah Banda is accompanied by First Lady Thandiwe Banda, Minister of Commerce, Felix Mutati, Foreign Affair Minister Kabinga Pande, Tourism minister, Catherine Namugala, Minister of Health Kapembwa Simbao, Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Tens Kapoma, Special Assistant to the President for Economic and Development Affairs, Dr. Richard Chembe, his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere.

Other key issues that would be discussed during the 64th General Assembly will be the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), world financial and economic crises and its impact on development, disarmament, UN reforms, including Security Council reform and revitalisation of the General Assembly.

It will also review the peace building commission and the Human Rights Council as well as consider issues relating to system wide coherence, sustainable development and HIV/AIDS.

The theme of the General Assembly is “Effective responses to global crises, strengthening multilateralism and dialogue among civilisations for international peace, security and development”.

The General Assembly, which was established in 1945 under the UN Charter, is a chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN and is a unique forum for multilateral discussions of full spectrum of international issues.

ZANIS

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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

KCC reports MMD officials for illegal land allocation

KCC reports MMD officials for illegal land allocation
Written by Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 1:48:40 AM

KITWE City Council (KCC) public relations manager Francis Wasamunu has disclosed that the council has reported suspected MMD officials for allocating land illegally in Kawama township.

In an interview, Wasamunu who did not know the exact number of officials involved said the officials had sold over 100 plots at between K500,000 and K1,000,000 respectively.

"It's like people have ganged up to enrich themselves and as council, we will no longer allow that," he said.

Wasamunu said the council would ensure prosecution of all those involved in the scam because this was not the first time that they were doing it.

He advised all those that had bought plots from the officials in question to reclaim their money because the local authority would not allow them to build any structures in the affected area.

Wasamunu explained that the council had demarcated about 400 plots in Kawama but the same suspected MMD officials allegedly removed the beacons that council had erected.

"And we would like to appeal to the MMD district and provincial leadership to instill discipline in their erring officials because such are the ones that tarnish their party's name," said Wasamunu.

And police said they had not received any report relating to the illegal allocation of land.

"Police don't deal with land issues; it is the council themselves. I'm not aware about that, I have not received such a report myself," said Kitwe police officer commanding Nelson Phiri.

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Thursday, April 30, 2009

(DAILY MAIL) State repossess undeveloped land

State repossess undeveloped land
By NKOLE CHITALA and CYNTHIA MWALE

GOVERNMENT says it will repossess undeveloped land once it completes the land audit aimed at establishing how much land is available in the country.

And Legacy Holdings has finally complied with the ultimatum to begin construction of the Hearts of Africa housing and office complex.

Minister of Lands Peter Daka said with the finalisation of the land audit Government will give audience to committed developers.

Mr Daka, however, said, “We are not interested in repossessing land… we want people to develop it and when we do that land audit we will give audience to would-be developers.

“As Government we want to give this land to others and have it titled. Therefore, really it’s not in our best interest to repossess land from people,” he said.
Speaking in an interview Mr Daka urged would-be developers to apply for land and show their financial status by developing the land.

“What I haven’t been happy about is that most Zambians get pieces of land because they are entitled and use their national registration cards to show the village where they come from, and we give them land.

But in turn, we find that on their land there is a beautiful house passed on to a foreigner who has no status in the country,” he said.

He warned people acquiring land dubiously that they risked stern action from the Government.

‘‘But in turn, we find that on their land there is a beautiful house passed on to a foreigner who has no status in the country. That foreigner might have entered (Zambia) illegally,” he said.

And Mr Daka said Government was not stopping investors from development by issuing ultimatums, but was merely urging developers to expedite their projects.

He was commenting on whether Legacy Holdings has complied with a three-month deadline Government had given it to comply with the initial development plan.

“We, as a ministry, want to see development and an ultimatum is an impetus to ask someone to move quickly. They have to stand up to the challenge. For us, we will support genuine investment. We don’t envisage any problem,” he said.

Mr Daka said Government was interested in the creation of wealth, jobs and empowerment for economic growth.

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Thursday, December 18, 2008

LETTERS - Land

Zambian ‘apartheid’
Written by CM Mulenga, United Kingdom
Thursday, December 18, 2008 9:53:23 AM

The Kitwe mayor’s stance regarding the allocation of 30 hectares of land in Garnerton area for the Chinese nationals to construct 300 houses made very interesting reading and cannot pass without comment.

It is really sad that the local council can start segregating (more like in apartheid South Africa) between the Zambian and Chinese nationals, who in this day and era are supposed to be living side-by-side. It is against this background that we have to question the wisdom of Kitwe mayor Divo Katete and Kitwe City Council.

The mayor does not seem to appreciate the difference between an economic zone and a residential area.

This type of segregation is exactly what our freedom fighters fought against and should not be tolerated in this age.

The Chinese nationals should be given land amongst all other Zambians as they equally have to integrate with their local counterparts and the entire Zambian population so that they understand our way of life and we understand theirs.

Surely all Zambians want to see the country develop as this will benefit the entire Zambian population but this idea of having segregated townships and/or compounds between the races should be stopped by all progressive Zambian and Chinese nationals.

And those 30 hectares of land in Garnerton area to be given to the Chinese nationals will entail displacing the local community and resettling them in other areas the council will find “suitable” for them. Would it not be more fair and justifiable to give the local population the title deeds to the lands they have occupied for a long time and for generations in some cases?


http://www.postzambia.com/content/view/2797/64/

Rupiah’s leadership
Written by Ba Muzo
Thursday, December 18, 2008 10:00:14 AM

Mwauma nga pa cela (you have hammered the nail on the head). I totally agree with the editorial of the December 16, 2008. The problem we have now does not require threats and political statements in the tailored media. It requires facing the situation now or never. Let President Rupiah Bwezani Banda show leadership. He should be above all Zambians and show us that he deserves to be at Plot 1.

Real leaders are made in crises, and we thank God that we have these crises. Our friends in America are doing something. They are not blaming the economic global downturn but are bravely trying to find solutions to the crisis. As a father, I cannot sit and cry about hunger at my home and castigate my wife when she threatens to go back to her caring parents. I tend to wonder where Zambia is going. If indeed these leaders can find money to pay themselves, then let them also sweat for it.

One now can understand why the working class rejected the MMD presidential candidate during the recently-held election.

A prudent leader will sit down and ponder on why the workers voted against him. Most progressive workers, for instance, are fed up with the cut throat taxes they have been enduring during all the 44 years of being independent. A Zambian worker is a modern slave who toils for government leaders. A leader will look at this as an opportunity to reprieve such workers by reducing their tax so that money saved can be invested and thereby create employment.

Going back to the issue at hand, there are two things MMD needs to do; they should improve on their communication skills so that they know how to communicate with the Zambian populace. Obama won the American peoples black and white because he knew how to communicate to people.

We do not need intimidating leaders but inspiring leaders this time around. Let them explain all the lies they promised us and how they will deliver on their promises. We want fertiliser to cost K50, 000. Fuel prices should come down. Failure to fulfill these things will mean that they are not worth the salary they have been awarding themselves.

Secondly, U utwala pa nsaka tonaula, those in leadership should realise that they are not the most intelligent Zambians. Out there lies a large cloud of intelligent Zambian (politicians or non-politicians alike) who if they put their heads together can help the government come up with solutions to heal our country. This time around we do not need political overtones, but solutions to what is happening in the country.


http://www.postzambia.com/content/view/2753/64/

Rupiah’s complaints
Written by Joe Kasiya, Lusaka
Thursday, December 18, 2008 10:02:24 AM

We used to laugh and jest at Levy’s ill preparedness
to assume the office of president when he was awoken from slumber by former president Frederick Chiluba, but President Rupiah Banda is even worse.

The man appears to be groping in the dark like a blind man and leading us nowhere. He keeps referring to the global recession which in all probability he doesn’t even understand when the problems have been largely created by himself and his misplaced Cabinet.

President Mwanawasa (MHSRIP) took over the leadership of this nation when the economy was in tatters, an exchange rate that didn’t make sense and hyper inflation at its highest, but with prudent management of resources and zero tolerance to corruption, he was able to woo investors and bring normalcy to the economy within a short period of time.

His appointment of Ng’andu Peter Magande as finance minister speaks volumes about the fallen presidents great vision for the country.

Magande was to become Zambia’s longest serving and best finance minister.

Trevor Manuel, South Africa’s finance minister has held that portfolio for the last 14 years and is probably Africa’s longest serving finance minister. The financial and commodity markets react when he blinks or has the slightest of headaches.

The first statement by the new minister of Finance Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane was that Zambia was not going to be affected by the global recession. How naïve of this technocrat! The kwacha is today trading at K5, 300 to the US dollar and may hit six ‘pin’ before Christmas.

The leadership of this country does not inspire confidence in the majority of Zambians. Rather, it instills and infuse the notion of fear, confusion and each one for himself and ba Lesa for us all in the general citizenry, for how in hell does a whole president complain so openly the way this one does!

The whole Cabinet is forever complaining instead of offering solutions.

It is during moments like these that I miss Levy and Magande for their magnanimity, nobility, high-mindedness, fairness, boldness and generousity of spirit.

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Friday, December 12, 2008

PF MP protests land offer to Chinese

PF MP protests land offer to Chinese
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Friday, December 12, 2008 4:28:11 AM

Patriotic Front Nkana member of parliament Mwenya Musenge last Saturday walked out of a full council meeting in protest against the offer of 30 hectares of land in Garneton for construction of houses for 300 Chinese nationals.

In an interview on Monday, Musenge said he could not be part of a decision that would sanction the settlement of Chinese when thousands of applications for land by Zambians had been pending for years without being processed.

Kitwe City Council last Saturday resolved to offer 30 hectares of land to the Zambia China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone Development (ZCCZ) Limited.

ZCCZ had initially applied for 36 hectares of land in Garneton next to Chambishi Metals to construct houses, cafes, canteens, gymnasiums and a sports field for an expected number of 300 Chinese.

Musenge complained that Zambians had not been served first, hence his decision to walk out of the council meeting.

“I got a bit frustrated,” Musenge said. “I could not agree with the council resolution to give land to the Chinese in Garneton when we have the majority of our people, here in Kitwe, we have thousands and thousands of applications...and at the end of the day they cannot access that land. Meanwhile, we are able to give a large chunk of land to the Chinese.”

Musenge said in the council meeting, he asked that President Rupiah Banda re-look at the directive made by his predecessor late Levy Mwanawasa for the allocation of 30 hectares of land but that his idea was blocked.

“I had asked in that meeting that ‘what can we do because at this level there is no way we can allow this thing to go through?’ And they said ‘No, land is vested in the President and these directives came from the Republican President that we need to give land so there is nothing that we can do’,” Musenge said. “And I asked ‘why can’t we give Rupiah Banda to look at this issue and see whether it is in order to give such land?’ And they said ‘No, even if he looked at it there is nothing that he can do because it has already been given’. In that case, I decided to walk out because I did not want my name to be part of those that approved that resolution.

“From the look of things, we have created an artificial shortage of land…and because of that artificial shortage of land that we have created, there is now too much corruption in land allocation at the council.”

During the council meeting that approved the offer of 30 hectares of land to ZCCZ, councillors were told that some Zambians would be accommodated on the premises.

The council resolved to sign a memorandum of understanding with ZCCZ to indicate that Zambians would be accommodated on the premises.

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Monday, November 17, 2008

(LUSAKATIMES) Marble Village land not for free - Kasonso

Marble Village land not for free - Kasonso
November 17, 2008

Management at C.K Mable, the company tasked to legalize land behind Garden House Motel on the Lusaka– Mumbwa road, has appealed to all its clients to continue serving their financial obligations to the firm.

C.K Mable Chairman Elijah Kasonso said the need for money has been necessitated by a robust exercise by the firm to put in place social amenities such as roads and security.

He said his firm is working on feeder roads for easy accessibility to the area so that those with vehicles can easily go and come out of Marble Village without facing any difficulties.

The C. K Marble Chairman said the police post being built at the site is almost finished and the company is currently exerting its efforts to erect houses for police officers in a bid to ensure security for the benefit of the residents.

He explained that the company spent huge sums of money for the Site Plan and satellite photograph of the 72 hectares piece of land both of which have been done.

Mr. Kasonso said all these undertakings are costly and is therefore surprised that some sections of society are misleading people that they will offer them land free of charge.

He said more than 2000 people have already committed themselves to follow the laid down procedure of legalizing the land in the area.

Mr. Kasonso has since appealed to all concerned residents not to be swayed by such elements promising free land but to follow the laid down procedure and secure their investments.

He has called on all the people with land at Marble Village to make his office, their office so that the people themselves know the truth by frequenting his office.

Mr. Kasonso said money is urgently needed to undertake the numbering of the site plan failure to which the process of legalising the plots will take long.

He said his company is working hard to complete the project but this can only be achieved with financial support from the people themselves who are the beneficiaries.

Mr. Kasonso encouraged all those who have not yet met their financial obligations to the company to do so in earnest as it is their contributions to the noble project that will give his administration the impetus and will to complete the job at hand in record time.

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Thursday, November 06, 2008

(TIMES) Woman detained for illegal allocation of Kitwe plots

Woman detained for illegal allocation of Kitwe plots
By Times Reporter

A WOMAN of Bulangililo Township in Kitwe was yesterday arrested for allegedly collecting money from people purporting she would allocate them land in the area.

Veronica Lwele, 57, detained at Kitwe Central Police station, has since been charged with obtaining money by false pretences and would appear in court soon.

Almost a month ago, Bulangililo Ward councillor Vincent Pelibati clashed with Kitwe Town Clerk Ali Simwinga after the councillor allegedly defended Ms Lwele when she was found illegally allocating plots in the area.

Mr Pelibati supported Ms Lwele when Mr Simwinga said that she should be reported to the police for getting involved in the illegal allocation of plots.

Copperbelt police chief, Antoneil Mutentwa confirmed the arrest of Ms Lwele in an interview.

“Yes I can confirm that the woman has been arrested for allegedly obtaining money by false pretences after she collected K2 million after purporting that she would allocate plots in the area,” Mr Mutentwa said.

And Mr Simwinga has advised the people in the city to report all those involved in illegal land dealings to the police or to the local authority so that they were dealt.

She said it was sad that some people were allowing themselves to be swindled out of millions of Kwacha by unscrupulous people purporting to be land dealers.

“It is indeed sad that every time we are talking about illegal allocation of plots in the city. As a city, we should be talking about how best to develop our city, instead of wasting time sorting out issues of illegal allocation of plots. Members of the public should be alert and report cases of illegal allocation of plots in the city,” Mr Simwinga said.

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(TIMES) 60 p.c. land in Ndola idle

60 p.c. land in Ndola idle
By Times Reporter

ABOUT 60 per cent of land in Ndola has been lying idle after the city council allocated it to individuals and organisations.

Town Clerk, Charity Mpande (left) said in an interview yesterday that a preliminary land audit conducted by the local authority showed that there was an ‘‘artificial’’ shortage of land because much of it was being held by people and individuals who had not undertaken any development.

Ms Mpande said the council would repossess the land which had not been developed 18 months after allocation.

The repossession exercise would be done after concluding the necessary legal processes so that it could be re-allocated to other developers.

“After a preliminary audit, we discovered that on paper, there is a shortage of land in Ndola.

‘‘However, on the ground it was discovered that about 60 per cent of the land which was allocated to some people was still lying idle for various reasons.

‘‘We did advertise in the newspapers last month that we shall be repossessing land which has not been developed,” she said.

The council was disappointed that Mitengo area, which was initially called Mufulira Round-about land development area, had not been developed from 2001 when the local authority initiated the project.

Ms Mpande said, however, that part of the land in Ndola was protected forestry land consisting of natural and exotic vegetation, which could not be developed into residential and commercial areas.

“There is still some land which has not been allocated south of the city. We’ve identified land for development. For instance in Mushili, land has been identified for development,” she said.

She said the council had spent K2 billion on grading roads in Mitengo area where the network had been gravelled and levelled with laterite.

“We sourced money within the council to do the roads in Mitengo. We graded the roads, levelled them and we did them professionally.

‘‘This is to enable people to access their plots and eventually develop the area,” she said.

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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.

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Monday, November 03, 2008

UNCCD urges improved land productivity

UNCCD urges improved land productivity
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe
Monday, November 03, 2008 7:10:21 AM

IMPROVING land productivity will boost the capacity to produce more food and tackle the issue of food security, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) had said. UNCCD executive secretary Luc Gnacadja said land could be an opportunity to solve most of the ongoing global crises. "The nexus between land degradation and climate change is clear," he said.

He said global warming was likely to lead to more extreme weather events, such as droughts and heavy rains, which could lead to soil erosion and loss of land cover.

Gnacadja said in order to tackle climate change challenges, there was need to look to the untapped potential of the soil to sequester carbon.

"An ecosystem is like a bank account," Gnacadja noted. "If we keep on withdrawing, and we don't invest by feeding the soil and enabling it to regenerate, we are moving towards bankruptcy."

He said drought and land degradation were predictable, and land degradation was reversible when the tipping point was not reached.

Gnacadja added that the social and economic impacts on livelihoods were to a large extent the result of "public and even global policy failure."

This includes the failure to scale up good practices, to spread available information and knowledge, and to mobilise the required resources.

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