Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Jean Kapata has noted that depleted natural resources can be restored with concerted efforts.

Ms Kapata has since called for the promotion of natural regeneration and enrichment tree planting as a means of restoring destroyed forests country wide.

ZANIS reports that Mrs Kapata made the remarks during the commemoration of the international day of forest which falls on March 21st, 2021 annually.

The Mandevu Law Maker, explained that forests are cardinal in providing social, economic and environmental benefits to the country.

She implored the youths, women and men to participate in the restoration of natural forests for the betterment of the Zambian people.

“You may wish to note that our natural forests when well managed are able to recover. The Lusaka Park is one such example of a previously degraded forest which has been restored,” She said.

And Lusaka National park area warden, Elliot Kasempa, said the declaration of forest number 26 and 65 into a national park has helped in restoring the named forests.

Mr Kasempa explained that prior to the two forests being declared as national parks they were heavily deforested.

“The excessive cutting down of trees for charcoal threatened the existence of forest number 26 and 65,” He said.

Meanwhile Kafue District Commissioner, Gibson Sinkala, stressed that forests are key in the sustaining of people’s livelihoods.

He cited honey, mushroom and medicines as some of the products harvested from natural forests.

Government with support from the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) has disbursed a grant of 21, Million Kwacha to 11 farmer cooperatives from across the country.

The farmers were also trained under the Matching Grant Facility of the Enhanced Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (E-SAPP).

ZANIS reports that Minister of Agriculture, Michael Katambo, presented the cheques and certificates to the cooperatives during the handover ceremony in Lusaka today.

And Mr Katambo said the government is committed and focused on commercializing all levels of agriculture.

“The government’s desire is to commercialize farming activities through promoting farming as a business”, explained Minister Katambo.

Mr. Katambo further explained that the government is promoting agriculture commercialization through disseminating information on good farming practices, as this is the practical method of improving Agriculture production and Productivity.

Speaking at the same event IFAD Country Director, Brian Kapotwe, stated that the training and grants rendered to cooperatives are aimed at boosting and commercializing their farming activities.

Mr. Kapotwe explained that despite financial challenges across the world due to COVID 19, IFAD will continue to supplement government efforts in the agriculture sector.

In giving a vote of thanks, Francis Chibuye who represented the farmers praised the government and IFAD for the program.

“The knowledge and money will contribute to the change of lifestyle for the farmers as it will improve income generation and food security in their homes and the country at large.

Government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) has started paying rentals amounting to K245, 790 for 91 families who were affected by floods in Lusaka Province.

In a statement issued to ZANIS by DMMU Senior Communications Officer Mathews Musukwa, the flood affected families are being moved from flooded areas to better houses in

Chawama, Kuku, John Laing and Lilanda Townships within Lusaka and government has paid rentals for 3 months.

Mr Musukwa explained that the relocation process started with about 20 families who were taken to a transitory camp in Kuku compound followed by the current 91 families who havebeen moved to various townships.

“More families are expected to be relocated as the officers under DMMU, Ministry of Health and the Local government are still conducting inspections to ensure that the identified houses where the affected families are earmarked to relocate are free from floods,” he said.

The Senior Communications Officer noted that the relocation of the 91 families is part of the temporary measure that government has put in place to safeguard lives of affected people while implementing the long-term solutions.

Mr Musukwa indicated that the rapid assessment conducted by the Unit shows that over 2,000 families were affected by floods and require not only accommodation but also food relief support.

He disclosed that the Unit is currently providing food relief support and non-food items to flood victims in all the affected townships.

This follows a directive by Vice President Inonge Wina to the DMMU National Coordinator to find alternative accommodation for all the flood victims.

Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Honourable Richard Musukwa has said he is concerned with the in-house fighting over minerals among chiefdoms and has since called on traditional leaders to work together.

Mr Musukwa says Government is concerned about reports of some traditional leaders quarreling over minerals, an issue which is hindering development in the country.

Speaking today in Lusaka when he held a meeting with Chieftainess Mpanshya, Chiefs Shikabeta and Chembe, all from Rufunsa District, Mr Musukwa urged the traditional leaders to work in unity and embrace both local and international investors in order for the mining sector to thrive and benefit the Zambian people.

It has been reported that the three chiefs have been antagonising each other over minerals and lack of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by investors in Rufunsa District.

And Mr Musukwa added that all License holders across Zambia have an obligation to help communities in which they operate.
Meanwhile, the three chiefs have since resolved to work together with License holders and all stakeholders in the region to spearhead development.

And Infinity Mine Director, Mwelwa Chisha has pledged his firm’s commitment to giving back to the community through social amenities, something which the firm did not do before.

Recently, illegal mining has characterised Rufunsa District and the trend has been a concern for the traditional leaders.
However, Government’s intervention in curbing the practice is evident as the Ministry has been on ground ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to book.

Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Jean Kapata has noted that depleted natural resources can be restored with concerted efforts.

Ms Kapata has since called for the promotion of natural regeneration and enrichment tree planting as a means of restoring destroyed forests country wide.

ZANIS reports that Mrs Kapata made the remarks during the commemoration of the international day of forest which falls on March 21st, 2021 annually.

The Mandevu Law Maker, explained that forests are cardinal in providing social, economic and environmental benefits to the country.

She implored the youths, women and men to participate in the restoration of natural forests for the betterment of the Zambian people.

“You may wish to note that our natural forests when well managed are able to recover. The Lusaka Park is one such example of a previously degraded forest which has been restored,” She said.

And Lusaka National park area warden, Elliot Kasempa, said the declaration of forest number 26 and 65 into a national park has helped in restoring the named forests.

Mr Kasempa explained that prior to the two forests being declared as national parks they were heavily deforested.

“The excessive cutting down of trees for charcoal threatened the existence of forest number 26 and 65,” He said.

Meanwhile Kafue District Commissioner, Gibson Sinkala, stressed that forests are key in the sustaining of people’s livelihoods.

He cited honey, mushroom and medicines as some of the products harvested from natural forests.

Government has launched a K40 million Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for the development of the electricity sector in the country.

Minister of Energy Mathew Nkhuwa said the IRP will help government assess the available energy resources and opportunities in order to meet Zambia’s electricity requirements.

Mr Nkhuwa said the development of the IRP through a British grant of 1.3 million pounds equivalent to K40 million presents Zambia with an opportunity to generate and enhance private sector participation in the generation, distribution and supply of electricity to domestic and commercial users.

He said the IRP will among others ascertain Zambia’s electricity investment needs, improve the reliability, affordability of electricity supply, reduce costs for delivering electricity services and minimize environmental and climate change impacts.

Mr Nkhuwa regretted that the country had over the past years failed to plan for the development and expansion of electricity generation and distribution and as the focus was mainly on supply.

The Minister noted that energy is a critical enabler for the development of the economy, wealth creation and reduction of poverty.

Mr Nkhuwa noted that Zambia is endowed with the necessary renewable and non-renewable energy resources which need harnessing.

He pointed out that Zambia needs to develop and diversify her energy generation from the traditional hydro power to smart technologies to meet rising demand for energy.

The Minister was speaking when he addressed stakeholders during a virtual launch of the IRP.

And British High Commissioner to Zambia Nicholas Woolley said his government remains committed to supporting Zambia develop her energy sector to help address the electricity deficit resulting from effects of climate change as seen from droughts the country has experienced.

The British envoy noted that Zambia’s socio-economic development has been slowed down by the continued power shortages and cuts which can be addressed by investing in alternative viable energy ventures.

He expressed optimism that the IRP will help unlock opportunities for the private sector to come on board and invest in the energy sector.

Mr Woolley said climate change has affected the globe and its paramount that smart solutions are

And IRP Project Director Joseph Mutale said development of generation and transmission infrastructure will be cardinal in developing Zambia’s electricity sector.

Professor Mutale said the project will run for 30 years as the country strives to incorporate smart grid technologies for the generation, distribution and supply of electricity on the market.

He said the project will ensure that both human resource and institutional capacity development are undertaken in order to enhance the development of the electricity sector in the country.

The Ministry of Local Government has approved the 2021 estimates of income and expenditure for Lusangazi Town Council amounting to K9.8 million.

And the Local Authority has committed itself to meet the 2021 Budget amounting to K9, 881,940 through its various revenue sources.

ZANIS reports that Lusangazi Town Council Public Relations Officer, Margaret Njame has confirmed the approving of the budget estimates for the district.

Mrs Njame disclosed that the town council expects to meet its budget from various revenue sources including local taxes, fees and charges, licenses, levies, national support and Constituency Development Fund.

“The Ministry of Local Government has approved the 2021 estimates of income and expenditure for Lusangazi Town Council and the local Authority commits itself to meet this budget through its various revenue sources,” she said.

Mrs Njame said some of the capital service provision projects to be funded this year include the partial completion of the Civic Center offices and drilling of boreholes, which has been allocated K423, 952 and K300.000 respectively.

She adds that the local authority expects to collect K1,862,180 from local sources of which 5 percent amounting to K93,109 would be spent on various Ward Development Fund projects.

Mrs Njame further explained that the Council has set aside funds in the 2021 budget amounting to K864, 750 for provision of other services within the district.

She thanked stakeholders who participated in the preparation of the Council’s 2021 budget.

“We are grateful to the stakeholders in the district who participated in the preparation of the budget and are looking forward to their continued partnership and cooperation as we implement this budget,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mrs Njame said the council is currently rehabilitating the damaged boreholes in the four wards of Lusangazi at a cost of K188, 154.28 to benefit an estimated population of 15, 000 community members.

She stated the boreholes are being rehabilitated in an effort to provide clean water to the community amidst the COVID 19 pandemic and prevent the outbreak of water borne diseases in the four wards namely, Chisangu, Ukwimi, Lusangazi and Mwanda wards.

“We are also rehabilitating the damaged boreholes in the four wards of Lusangazi to provide clean water to the community and prevent water borne diseases amidst this COVID 19,” she said.