ZLA Calls for Better Protection of Land Rights in Serenje
Elias Simbeye, Project Coordinator for the Zambia Land Alliance (ZLA), has called for stronger advocacy to review land laws and policies to protect the land rights of vulnerable groups amidst growing large-scale land acquisitions for investments.
Speaking at a Traditional Leaders and Community Symposium organised by the Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ) and supported by Bread for the World (Germany) through the Resilient Initiatives for Sustainable Environment (RISE) Project, Mr. Simbeye highlighted the issue of communities being displaced without proper compensation, leading to loss of livelihoods and land disputes.
Mr. Simbeye stressed the importance of consulting affected community members before approving large-scale land investments and emphasized the need for ongoing awareness of land rights and community participation in decision-making processes.
Maponde Chandamali, Environmental Planner for Serenje Town Council, noted that the local authority has been promoting community consultation meetings prior to project commencement to address grievances.
However, she pointed out that community members often do not participate in these meetings, only raising concerns after decisions are made.
Additionally, Vera Toyanga from the Forestry Department in Serenje reported that displaced people are encroaching on forests, further complicating the situation.
