Chama-Forum for Democracy and Development(FDD) saddened with elephants destroying rice and maize fields in Katangalika, Zobole and surrounding villages in Senior Chief Kambombo’s Chiefdom, Chama District, Muchinga Province.
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By Yotam Mtayachalo
FDD Acting party Spokesperson.
PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CROP ELEPHANTS WHICH ARE WREACKING HAVOC IN CHAMA DISTRICT FDD APPEALS TO THE STATE;
Sunday 12th April,2020.
Chama-Forum for Democracy and Development(FDD) is saddened with reports of elephants destroying rice and maize fields in Katangalika, Zobole and surrounding villages in senior chief Kambombo’s chiefdom in chama district in muchinga province.
The animals are wreaking serious havoc in some areas surrounding the district as they have resorted to eating maize, rice and other crops posing a serious threat to food security in the area at a time when farmers are expecting to reap maximum returns on their investments.
It is in light of the foregoing that I want to take this opportunity to make an earnest appeal to the minister of Tourism and Arts hon Ronald Chitotela to seriously consider authorising the department of wildlife in the district to crop these animals or implement effective and proactive control measures because they have considerably multiplied in numbers in recent years thereby exacerbating human-animal conflict in the area.
Further I would like to urgue the department of wildlife in chama district to be more proactive in responding to issues of human-animal conflict in order to protect human life and crops from wild animals which are terrorising villagers.
The department of wildlife in the district should also develop a culture of regular interaction with the communities who live near Game Management Areas(GMA’s) to remove the mistrust which currently exist between these two parties which is not a health situation but should instead work together in harmony as social partners in animal conservation rather than lead a cat and rat life.
Yotam Mtayachalo Forum for Democracy Development (FDD) Acting party Spokesperson. Chama-Forum for Democracy and Development(FDD) is saddened with reports of elephants destroying rice and maize fields in Katangalika, Zobole and surrounding villages in senior chief Kambombo’s chiefdom in Chama District in Muchinga Province.
Furthermore it does not make any sense for the government to continue providing relief food to affected families year in year out which is unsustainable when something can be done urgently to stop this annual trend of destruction of crops by wild animals.
It is indisputable fact that people who live near game management areas(GMA’s) do not derive maximum benefits from their God given wildlife resources as usually it is safari hunters who are the major beneficiaries at the expense of the local people and as such I feel that this trend must be revisited so that local people should equally benefit in one way or another from this natural resource.
Furthermore I have also noticed that many people from chama district are either serving jail sentences or languishing in remand prisons in Lundazi,Chinsali and mpika districts respectively for wildlife related crimes and some of these cases are very minor which should not necessarily carry custodial sentences.
Lastly but not the least I also want to make an earnest appeal to the His Excellency the President of the republic of Zambia Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu to consider pardoning prisoners convicted of wildlife related crimes as a way of decongesting the prisons in view of the covid19 and as such we shall be very grateful to the Head of State for the good gesture so that these individuals are reunited with their families.
ISSUED BY:
Yotam Mtayachalo
FDD Acting party Spokesperson.
