The government has called on Zambians to be patient on the issue of Forest Reserve 27 as the matter is being handled strategically.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Elijah Muchima disclosed that there is need for a strategic environmental impact report to be used for reference and backup when the matter is brought up for verdict.
Mr Muchima explained that most people do not understand the area was de-gazetted using presidential powers and there is a procedure to deal with such a case.
The Minister noted that government is aware of the effects on the recharge area especially on Chalimbana and Chongwe river areas.
He added that this has caused water challenges for the people of Chongwe which requires sustainable interventions.
Mr Muchima was Speaking in an interview with journalists at Chalimbana University in Chongwe District yesterday and revealed that the issue of forest 27 involved innocent people and institutions, hence the need to study the matter with caution.
He said that the issue was not about hatred but doing what is beneficial for the Zambians, especially Chongwe residents who are highly affected.
“At the moment we need to use the technical report that can give us authority going forward,” Mr Muchima indicated.
He noted that laws too have to be followed, hence people should not push the government to make hasty decisions.
He explained the process of cancelling a title deed can only be done by a court order or presidential authority which must have a backing.
The Minister was happy that stakeholders such as the World Wild Fund for nature (WWF) are willing to assist government with the process of developing a strategic report.
He said that developing the report is expensive and the help by stakeholders was welcome.
Degazzeting forest 27 was PF corruption and greed to benefit their top leaders.Public resources for private gain.
PF PF PF DEGAZETTE THEM AS WELL
JUST A NUISENSE TO ZAMBIA
The new dark government has also interest the forest in question. If you can’t beat them, join them.
Upnd has nothing to offer. Everytime is evaluating and analysing.
Last year in Parliament, Gary and Mweetwa said when UPND gets into govt they will bring down structures on Forest 27. Your leader was also on top of the hills promising to bring down the structures in Forest 27. Its now turning to be another false promise!!
Let me add a few things to the PF Election loss postmortem report because their own willbe highly doctored and sweetened,
1. Sharing of forest 27 by PF leaders as it has been revealed, the article above has the best response from the Minister for us to understand procedural issues
2. Davies Mwila instruction to PF cadres to take over bus stops, markets and share plots
3. Edgar Lungu’s careless statement that ubomba mwibala alya mwibala but not kulila kumo ne mbuto
4. Hijacking of ZNBC and public media by PF to the exclusion of opposition parties
5. Erosion of all gains made by MMD resulting into worsening of economic parameters like inflation, exchange rate and reserves
6. Lack of truthfulness – fake opinion polls, fake defections, Christians for Edgar Lungu instead of Christians…
If environmental expert opinion was ignored, the matter must be taken to court so that the court orders that the land be restored to its original state. I also seriously doubt the allocation of land followed the laid down procedures. And it is like most of the VIPs allocated plots in that area did not even obtain planning permission to build, making the council lose out in revenue. A precedent must be set to deter would-be perpetrators. Just because one is President does not mean they can do anything. Abuse of power must not be allowed.
The minister is right , ………..
an environmental impact report will justify restoration of the forest…………
This is lungus legacy , and one of the worst acts of lungu, the looting forest 27…………
otherwise all round it was wreckless corruption at the expense of the country…………
The other one that needs to be stopped is that mine in lower zambezi national park…..
There is nothing to study about Forest 27 its a refill for two rivers and a catchment for Lusaka’s water table…just for once accept that you have UPND MPs involved….let LCC go and demolish those structures and Forestry Dept restores the forest back to where it was. Don’t compromised with the environment!!
This government should have first studied the matter before opening it up in a sensationalized way. Think before you talk bwana minister. At first you wanted to use forest 27 to harass your predecessor but she rebuffed you with confidence and thereafter you got confused and just started yapping.
HH is putting himself in danger. How long would take renovate Nkwazi House at State House !…………………
The issue involves Upnd members that is what the study is all about.
The minister noted that laws too have to be followed, hence people should not push the government to make hasty decisions. YOU STARTED THE TALK YOURSELVES.
What will happen to the ultimatum given to Mama Inonge? What is the timeline to get that report issued ?
For as long as there is no target, this report is not feasible in the next 5 years, and that will be a HUGE disappointment. The minister, from above article, sounds to be backtracking and creating room for speculations.
Case closed no action to be taken we will continue drinking their “drinks”
They are only mentioning Inonge, Kampyongo and Richard Musukwa and other PF Mps as the ones with plots on Forest 27. Deliberately they are not mentioning the UPND Mps. But can bet you $00.000 there will be no destruction of any property on forest 27!
Average Zambians being short-changed again! The elite take all. Ruthless!
#plant a tree now please.
Minister Jean Kapata has told parliament that the United Party for National Development(UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema also has a piece of land in Forest 26 which was also excised from Forest 27 This was 2019 in parliament. NOBODY DENIED THIS.
Zambians are being cheated with cheap publiciteit.
Can Zambians realy believe that the thieves in the present government can
catch fellow thieves from UPND or from the notorious PF.
All of them are criminaliseren including HH. How come that they are owning land
In Forest 26. Only the military can put an end to the behaviour of these criminels.
THIS ISSUE OF FOREST NO.27 IS MORE COMPLEX THAN WE ARE BEING MADE TO BELIEVE. THERE IS NO WAY MINISTER OF LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES COULD HAVE APPLIED BRAKES SO FAST. THE GOVT OFFICIALS AT LUSAKA PLANNING AUTHORITY AND LUSAKA CITY COUNCIL ARE NOT BEING SINCERE AND JUST WANT OT SAVE THEIR THIN SKINS BY FEEDING THE NEW DAWN ADMINISTRATION WITH WRONG INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF WHAT REALLY TRANSPIRED THEN. HOW WAS THE LAND SURVEYED AND PLOTS NUMBERED ETC. PEOPLE SHOULD LEARN TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY WHEN THINGS GO WRONG THAN EXPECTED. THE PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN DEFENDING FNO.27 ARE MR. ROBERT CHIMAMBO AND WILLIAM HARRINGTON. WHAT HAPPENED TO LAND IN CHOMA? SHARED AMONG A FEW GOVT OFFICIALS IN SMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS COULD BE HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WHERE THERE ARE NO WHISLE…
We all knew you didn’t have the b***s to do anything about it. UPND is too weak to go after the PF
The startby opening their mouth before they think. Now we will have a lot of studies. If procedure was followed to degatte forest 27, to is going deficult and very expensive to reverse.
Malabishi… report my a$s! How long does it take to write up an environmental impact report, an impact known by everyone? If it was de-gazetted by presidential decree, why can’t you use the same presidential decree to re-gazette the same land? Everyone knows corruption was the main factor so just do the right thing by the people and stop being incompetent and giving all sorts of excuses. What a failed country this is!