six in court

By Chali Mulenga

THE Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has said that the detention of the six former council workers living in former council houses near the Zambezi River is within the law.

ZAWA Director General Edwin Matokotwani said his organisation is ready to discussion with the provincial administration to find lasting solution over the concerns that the concerns.

Mr Matokotwani said that section 15 of the ZWA act was very clear that no one should live in the park.

“Before we can proceed squarely on the matter we want to appreciate what the concerns of the provincial administration and the people are as the law is very clear,” he said.

The ZAWA chief promised to travel to Livingstone to ensure that he meets the provincial minister to sort out the matter.

 He said that strictly speaking the residence in the park is not allowed by the law.

Mr Matokotwani said that this matter maybe needs to be discussed as making people go to jail was not the best option as the offence was grave.

He said that there is need to discuss with all the stakeholders and that the Government officers needs to speak the same language.

He said lodges had been allowed in the park as they are doing business and it was different from the residence in the park.

Mr Matokotwani said that national parks were declared in 1972 and that Government made sure that they are no people that should live in the park.

“The parks were game reserves and that they did not remove the people from the park,” he said.

Mr Matokotwani said residence in the park is not allowed and that the only parks where people are allowed are those that were declared under traditional authorities.

 “The Sioma Ngwezi National Park and Liuwa national parks were established by the traditional authorities and that Statutory Instruments (SI) provides that the people should live in the park,” he said.

 And Livingstone district commissioner Paul Sensele said that it sad that ZAWA has taken the people to court.

  He said that Government will ensure that the people are not victimised and it is the people that voted for the Government and not the wildlife.

End.