Zambia: Government opposes land allocation to investor

Zambia Daily Mail | 23 June 2014
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The Central Province government opposes the allocation of 10,000 ha of land in Serenje’s Mphande area by Chief Chibale to Zimbabwe-based Blackstar Investment, which might result in over 1,300 people being displaced.

Government opposes land allocation to investor

By CHAMBO NG’UNI

GOVERNMENT is opposed to the allocation of 10,000 hectares of land in Serenje’s Mphande area by Chief Chibale to Blackstar Investment which might result in over 1,300 people being displaced.

Central Province Minister Obvious Mwaliteta says traditional leaders can only give up to a maximum of 250 hectares.

Serenje district commissioner Charles Mwelwa said on Saturday that Blackstar Investment has been given 10,000 hectares of land by Chief Chibale.

But Mr Mwaliteta says much as Government wants investors, it will not allow a situation where local people are displaced and the amount of land exceeds the chief’s jurisdiction.

“First and foremost, allocation of 10,000 hectares is too much without the consent of the President, who is the custodian of land on behalf of Zambians,” Mr Mwaliteta said.

The minister yesterday said traditional leaders should guard against giving investors huge chunks of land because in some cases, they hold on to land for speculative purposes while local people are displaced.

The provincial administration in Central Province is not aware that Chief Chibale has given Blackstar Investment 10,000 hectares, on which the investor cultivates maize and soya beans on commercial basis.

Even if Blackstar Investment was taken to the area by the Zambia Development Agency, the provincial administration should have been informed about the development.

“We are not going to accept to see people displaced. For me, as the provincial minister, I say no to that project. I will see to it that it does not happen,” he said.

Chief Chibale on Saturday said Blackstar Investment has requested him to find alternative land for affected families to pave way for the project.

He said Blackstar Investment has assured him that it would build houses for the people who will be affected by the project.

“No one is being forced to move, it is on voluntary basis and the investor has offered to build houses for the affected people and will also assist them to plough their fields for the first two years,” Chief Chibale said.

Blackstar Investment is still engaged in negotiations with the affected families.

Blackstar Investment is owned by Nickle Anderson of Zimbabwe and intends to invest in dairy farming, soya beans and maize cultivation.
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