•PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu (left) with newly appointed Lands Permanent Secretary Barnaby Bwalya Mulenga after the swearing-in ceremony at State House yesterday. Picture by SALIM HENRY/STATE HOUSE
By CATHERINE NYIRENDA –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu is concerned with the little effort being made to protect and preserve natural resources and the environment in Zambia.
Mr Lungu has since directed newly appointed Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Permanent Secretary Barnaby Mulenga to pay close attention to issues affecting the environment and protection of natural resources.
The President told Mr Mulenga that the ministry he will be running is not just a ministry for Land but also in charge of, natural resources and environmental protection.
Mr Lungu said this yesterday at State House when he swore in Mr Mulenga as permanent secretary and Stephen Chibesa as Public Policy Specialist at Cabinet office.
Prior to his new appointment, Mr Mulenga was Commissioner of Lands.
“I see very little effort towards the protection and reservation of natural resources, what I see is a lot of destruction of the forests with impunity, this must be stopped,” President Lungu said. (From Front page)
The President said it is unfortunate that some people are taking advantage of their positions either as traditional leaders or as civil servants to abuse the natural resources and harm the environment.
“I would urge you to focus on the preservation of the natural resources and the environment, ensure that measures are put in place to protect this, if it means educating villagers and chiefs, let it be a policy to implement,” he said.
He said his office on a daily basis receives reports of many logs lying around and, people cutting down trees like the Mukula.
“Everywhere in Zambia where this tree is, it is endangered, but it’s of economic value, I have been talking to investors who are the end users to come to Zambia and to talk to us on what they are using it for so that we can add value and benefit from it,” he said.
He said the knowledge on value addition of the tree could also be passed on to the youths for them to not only add value to it but also repopulate the tree by planting it, as it takes years to grow.
He said the value of the Mukula tree belongs to Zambia, that he will not allow a situation where the trees are wiped out.
Mr Lungu told Mr Mulenga that he is the bridge between the minister and the people of Zambia and that his loyalty should be to the citizens and not to his pocket.
On land, the President said it is unfortunate that the acquisition of land in the country had continued to remain the preserve of the elite and those who are well connected.
The President is sad that some people had gone into full time as brokers, acquiring land and later reselling it at a higher prices subjecting citizens to paying exorbitantly for it.
“Work with the Commissioner of Lands to be, and the Minister of Lands to ensure that Zambians have access to land, at affordable prices and easily available, it should not be the preserve of the elite but for every Zambian,” he said
He also reminded Mr Mulenga that his role is to implement the policies of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) which entails that every Zambian has access to land and ensuring the environment is protected and preserved.
Mr Mulenga said in an interview after being sworn-in that he will ensure that the forest guards are reintroduced to protect the forest in line with President Lungu’s directive.
“The ministry will also partner with the community and the chiefs to ensure that we protect the environment and natural resources.
He said the ministry would also push for the Land Policy to be finalised to ensure equitable access to land.
Mr Chibesa said he would work closely with the officials at Cabinet to develop policies that would be beneficial to the country.
