The Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has refuted media reports that Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) and ZAWA were beating and evicting people from Mumbwa Game Management Area (GMA).
ZAWA Communications and Public Relations Officer Mwila Muliyunda has disputed reports by Radio Phoenix saying no one was beaten or evicted by ZAWA and DDMM in Mumbwa area.
Ms Muliyunda said the issue of people who have settled illegally in the conservation Buffer and special Use zones of Mumbwa was before the courts of law and that the case was discharged by the Lands Tribunal on September 15 2013.
She however said the courts had ordered for the immigrant settlers to relocate from the zones by November 30 2013 failure to which they will forcibly be evicted by government through various law enforcement wings but the court order has not yet been implemented.
Ms Muliyunda stated that the people who have settled in the area in question are migrant farmers from Southern province who have settled in areas that have been reserved exclusively for wildlife by indigenous people of Mulendema, Kabulwebulwe and Chibuluma chiefdoms as they derive revenue and employment from both consumptive and non consumptive tourism in the area.
She said from the time the migrants settled in the area, indigenous communities and ZAWA have suffered loss in terms of revenue from wildlife habitat due to rampant deforestation, increased poaching activities especially key species such as elephants.
Ms Muliyunda said the communities are aggrieved because they relocated from the area in the 1950s to pave way for conservation of wildlife but the increase in human settlements has led to loss of economic value of Mumbwa GMA.
She said it was not in the interests of ZAWA to victimise people in any away but people should assign value to wildlife by settling in the areas provided for them and avoid the areas which are reserved for wildlife.
She appealed to the affected people to remain calm as ZAWA was trying to correct the situation through the courts of law.
ZANIS
There is no smoke without fire!
Go to Lwamuloba Ward in Mulobezi Constituency of Mulobezi (formerly Sesheke) district and talk to people there about ZAWA activities and you’ll hear hair-raising stories similar to atrocities committed in Rwanda. Those guys can be brutal especially when they realise they are dealing with villagers who do not know their rights and the professional boundaries of ZAWA. One day, someone higher will take an interest in some of the things government officials do in the name of enforcing laws.
The story in Mumbwa must be very true, going by the stories in Lwamuloba ward. I say, let government investigate such stories quickly and establish the truth. Yes, ZAWA has challenges but overzealous officers do not help, either.
Respecting animals more than people! God created man in his own image later said, late therebe water and animals for man to eat and take dimension over all other living things. That says God our creator. So Zawa your are evil. You belong to Satan who is against Gods wish. No wonder you are in trouble in terms off exit acne . Very soon you will be liquidated. Sons of the devil!
Respecting animals more than people! God created man in his own image later said, late therebe water and animals for man to eat and take dimension over all other living things. That says God our creator. So Zawa your are evil. You belong to Satan who is against Gods wish. No wonder you are in trouble in terms off exit acne . Very soon you will be liquidated. Sons of the devil!