-Minister calls for prudent use of forests

———–Lusaka Province Minister Freedom Sikazwe has called on Zambians to adopt a positive attitude towards the management and use of forests.

Mr. Sikazwe added that government will ensure that the country’s natural resources are  utilized wisely in order to drive economic development.

The Provincial Minister said this during the district tree planting ceremony in Chilanga today in a speech read for him by deputy permanent secretary ambassador Annie Mutambo, under the theme “trees for poverty alleviation and economic development”.

Mr. Sikazwe said the tree planting ceremony aims at encouraging people to plant trees to replace those which have been cut.

He stressed that government expects every citizen to recognize the importance of sustainable forest management.

Mr. Sikazwe said government will at the same time ensure that future generations benefit from the resources.

And Chilanga district commissioner Patrick Phiri said the benefits that people get from tree planting cannot be over emphasized.

Mr. Phiri pointed out that the tree planting exercise is important because among other benefits trees provide the oxygen that is needed for life.

He said this is the foresight that Chilanga district needs to emulate for poverty alleviation and economic development.