GOVERNMENT should punish all those who built in the designated forest 24 to save as lesson to others, UPND Alliance Spokesperson Tabo Kawana has said.

GOVERNMENT should punish all those who built in the designated forest 24 to save as lesson to others, UPND Alliance Spokesperson Tabo Kawana has said.

Speaking in an interview Mr Kawana said that the government should be commended for the step it took to halt all development projects taking place at forest reserve 27 in Lusaka in order for the government to find out how plots were acquired within the reserve area.

He said that people who were developing the area were aware that the area is designated but they went ahead and developed without considering that it was playing a major role as far as nature is concerned.

Mr Kawana observed that due to the development of forest 27, Lusaka and surrounding areas have been flooding.

He said that this is a lesson to selfish individuals who obtain property illegally without caring.

Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Elijah Muchima has instructed the director of the commission of lands to take stock of all activities that have been happening at the forest reserve.

Mr Muchima expressed sadness over the amount of land that has been taken up for development in the forest 27 area, which is also called Chalimbana system recharge area.

Mr Muchima promised to bring sanity in the audition of land as was indicated in the campaigns.