Government aware of threatened wetlands

Government aware of threatened wetlands

Mansa, February 22, ZANIS ——— Government says lack of a clear policy and weak institutional framework to guide the effective management of wetlands is a threat to the wetlands in the country.

Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Mbololwa Muyaba says currently the conservation and management of wetlands operate under a cross section of institutions with no clear guidance on who has the overall mandate to manage them making it difficult to address challenges faced by wetlands.

Mrs Muyaba said in order to provide an overreaching framework for the effective management of wetlands, government through the Ministry of Lands, Natural resources and Environmental protection has embarked on a process of developing a National Wetlands policy.

ZANIS reports that the Permanent Secretary said this in a speech ready for her by Luapula Province Chief Planner Daisy Seketeni during the opening  a one day provincial consultative workshop for the formulation of a wetlands policy at Mansa Lodge in Mansa yesterday.  

She said the coming up of the policy has been compounded by unsustainable exploitation and unplanned developments in wetlands.

Mrs Muyaba also said the coming of the national wetlands policy is line with government efforts of providing leadership and an enabling environment for the protection of the unique natural resources base for socio-economic development.

Meanwhile Senior chief Kalasa Mukoso of Samfya district has welcomed government decision to come up with a national wetlands policy.

The senior chief said the coming up of the national wetlands policy will help to address the many conflicts that have come with the wetlands.