News - as yet unconfimed, that the southern portion of the West Mvuvye National Forest has now been alienated on a 99 year renewable lease to investors brought in by Messrs Younger and Baldry, joining the already alienated northern portion of this protected area, awarded on a similar lease to Mr Z. Patel, is deplorable news. However, a call from the Chairman of the Luembe Headman's Association saying that he has heard that the Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources has de-gazetted this National Forest, suggests that matters may have taken a turn for the worse at a Ministry whose Forestry Department refuses to see community members living around the Forest who object to the alienations, nor respond to Luembe Conservancy Trust trustees who had two years ago applied for a joint forest management agreement with the Forestry Department in respect of the Forest in question.
This corruption has been widely reported: to the Commission for Investigations, the Anti-Corruption Commission, to The Post newspaper...but nothing has been said or done about it.
Any land over 250 ha may not be alienated on 99 year leasehold to any individual or company without the express permission of the Minister of Lands.
The peoples' land is being stolen by corrupt chiefs, fast-buck merchants and civil servants who serve only their own family and clan interests. And we appear powerless to stop it.
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