Illegal structures in Forest 27 face demolition

By Patricia Banda

Government says it will serve notices of demolitions to people that have built structures on the remaining 716 hectares of land in Lusaka’s forest 27.

Lands and Natural Resources Minister SYLVIA MASEBO says the structures that will be demolished are those that do not have title and planning authority from the council.

Ms. MASEBO says the government needs to protect the forest because it is the only one remaining between Lusaka and Chongwe districts.

She was speaking to ZNBC News today after a joint operation in Forest 27 and Chamba valley  with Ministry of Green Economy, Zambia Environment Management Agency, -ZEMA and the Ministry of Local Government.

And Ms. MASEBO has summoned to her office one of the owners of a structure in forestry 27 to explain why he has continued building even after he had been warned several times.

And a check at Forest 27 revealed that there are people developing structures at the source of Chalimbana River.

Meanwhile, Green Economy and Environment Minister, MIKE MPOSHA expressed concern that trees are being cut in Forestry 27 by people who are constructing houses illegally.

And Ms. MASEBO is disappointed with those that have encroached on sewer ponds in CHAMBA valley area.