State muses solution to Chiawa human, wildlife conflicts

LILLIAN CHIKANDI writes

GOVERNMENT is committed to finding long term measures to combating the human and wildlife conflict in the Chiawa Chiefdom of Kafue district.

Minister in the office of the Vice President, Silvia Chalikosa, announced on Sunday that government would soon embark on a programme to fence off Kafue River so the area could be used for irrigated agricultural production.

Speaking when she visited the area in the company of Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit National Coordinator, Chanda Kasolo, said it did not make sense for the people in the Chiawa Chiefdom to lack water when the area was surrounded by the Zambezi and Kafue Rivers.

Ms Chalikosa said the government was aware of the human and wildlife conflict in the area hence the reason it was working with people to try and find a lasting solution to it.

She said that government would help supplement the people’s efforts to ensure the project is successful if the people are willing to embrace the solutions to be offered.

Ms Chalikosa has appealed to unemployed youths in the Chiawa Chiefdom, willing to earn a decent living, to embrace the proposition being made by government.

She said that there was need for the youth to come on board and take interest in fish farming and other income generating ventures.

“But for as long as they are staying away and not voicing out their needs, it will be very difficult for government to identify them and come to their rescue,” she said.

She encouraged people to venture in agriculture projects, like Zambeef and Chakanaka farms, in order to avert hunger.

Zambeef is utilizing 2800 hectors of land and 36 centre pivots to produce winter maize and millet.

Ms Chalikosa requested the councillors to provide statistics on cooperatives and to bring on board those who have previously worked on the Zambeef and Chakanaka Farms so they could share their knowledge with the new comers who may want to venture in similar activities.