Fri, 23 Jun 2017 12:26:00 +0000
By VIOLET TEMBO
COPPERBELT Minister Bowman Lusambo has warned settlers who have been compensated with land in Ndola’s Dag Hammarskjöld against selling the land.
Ministry of Finance released over K20, 000, 000 to move 486 settlers from the land earmarked for construction of Copperbelt Green Field Airport in Ndola.
Speaking during the handover of title deeds to the first group that have settled on the one thousand hectares of land, Mr. Lusambo warned that he would not hesitate to push for prosecution of the settlers found wanting.
Mr. Lusambo said the land which Government had located to the settlers was earmarked as an entry point for the province to kick start diversification programme into agriculture.
“We were called names and insulted when it was announced that government planned to embark on construction of the new airport in the province and some settlers will be affected.
“Some of you (settlers) were used by some members from the named opposition political party as vessels to insult government and we were called liars.
“Today, we are fulfilling what President Lungu promised and no one has remained a destitute but getting their share of the compensation.
“You can squander the money you are being refunded but I am warning you that if you decide to sell, I call for your arrest and ensure that you serve a jail term,” he said.
Mr. Lusambo said, his office was highly expectant that the settlers would develop the land and diversify into crops and not only focus on maize cultivation. He emphasized that the Copperbelt ought to satisfy the yawning market of the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and maximize on profits from trade.
Mr. Lusambo advised the farmers to use the title deeds as collateral to acquire loans to upscale their farming activities in the respective areas which they were being allocated to.
