Increased dam construction activities on Luano District irks Chief Chikupili

Increased dam construction activities  on Luano District irks Chief Chikupili

Luano, Feb 20, 2014, ZANIS – Chief Chikupili of the Lala People of Luano District has expressed concern about the increased  number  of Dams that  are being constructed by most commercial Farmers on the Lunsemfwa River.

The Chief expressed his concern when a team of Government Officers from the District paid a courtesy call on him at his Palace in Chikupil Village of Luano District, today.

He  complained that the water levels in the river have significantly reduced due to the activities of Damming by the Commercial Farmers in the area.

He said  that due to  the reduced water levels the fish stocks in the river have depleted as well.

He lamented that the depletion of fish levels in the river have drastically affected his subjects who depend on the fish as a source of livelihood.

He feared that if the trend continues his subjects’ levels of poverty would increase as fish is used both as a source of food and income by the people.

He called on the Government officials to help his Chiefdom address this critical issue.

Meanwhile, Chief Chikupili has called on his subjects to stop using mosquito nets for fishing.

He advised that the trend of using mosquito nets tends to capture even the small fish, hence affecting the breeding of the fish in the river.

He therefore encouraged his subjects to use the proper fishing nets for their fishing activities in order to maintain good breeding of fish in the river.

The District Officials that visited the Chief’s Palace were from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Ministry of Works and Supply, and Ministry of Chief’s Affairs.