Government and traditional leaders to relocate villagers

Government and traditional leaders to relocate villagers

Chipata, February 25, ZANIS ——Home Affairs Deputy Minister Elfreda Kansembe says government has engaged Lundazi District Council and traditional leaders to relocate 268 villagers who were found to have settled in Kasungu National Park of Malawi following the placing of beacons on Zambia’s border with Malawi in Lundazi district.

Ms Kansembe said in an interview with ZANIS in Chipata yesterday that the stakeholders would have to identify a place where the villagers of Kapilingozi area of Chieftainess Mwasemphangwe chiefdom would be settled once they were moved from the National Park.

Ms Kansembe explained that the villagers had always believed that they were settled in Chieftainess Mwasemphangwe until recently when beacons were placed because the border was initially not clearly defined.

The villagers who had been living in the area were last year reported to have encroached into Kasungu National park, a move which led to the arrest of some villagers who were believed to have strayed into the game park for alleged poaching.

Ms Kansembe who recently took an on the spot check following complaints of encroachment from Malawi authorities said the villagers would soon be relocated away from Kasungu National Park which was extended to the border after beacons were placed.