Mon, 15 Jan 2018 10:06:37 +0000
By AARON CHIYANZO
CHIEFS have been warned not to give away Mukula or any timber species as only government had the mandate to allow harvesting of these commodities.
Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources public relations officer, Diniwe Zulu said that only mandated government institutions could do so.
Ms Zulu was commenting on Chief Chikwanda’s concerns that some chiefs were still of the notion that they could permit harvesting of Mukula within their jurisdictions.
Ms Zulu explained that in as much as traditional leaders had the right to give out land, harvesting of any timber species or Mukula on the said land was legally the preserve of Government.
She told the Daily Nation that only mandated government institutions such as the district forestry office had the right to give permits for Mukula harvest.
“Chiefs, yes can give out land, but still someone cannot harvest Mukula or other timber species on that land without permission from the forestry office. It is only the district office which can give permission for the harvest of Mukula and all timber species,” said Ms Zulu.
Meanwhile, Chief Chikwanda of Mpika pointed out that some chiefs were still of the notion that whatever that lies within their jurisdiction, was for them to regulate.
The traditional leader said that some chiefs might have been involved in Mukula scandals out of ignorance.
Chief Chikwanda said that traditional leaders see all trees as a God-given natural resource for them to use in whatever way.
And Chief Chikwanda suggested that chiefs should be given concession licences to be exporting legally harvested Mukula.
He explained that there was need to deter traditional leaders from doing something that was illegal by giving them licences for controlled harvest.
The chief said that government needed to engage traditional leaders on Mukula if the fight against illegal harvesting of the commodity was to be won.
He explained that up to now some chiefs were not aware about the ban and that for them anything within their jurisdiction was for them to regulate.
Chief Chikwanda said that for some traditional leaders, natural resources within their chiefdoms was for them to allocate as had been the norm with land.
He said that government should dialogue with chiefs on how best illegal harvesting of Mukula could be controlled.
“It will be difficult for the Ministry of Lands to curb illegal harvesting of Mukula if they do not involve Royal Highnesses. For some, all that they know is that they are mandated to whatever is within their jurisdiction,” Chief Chikwanda said.
