A Zambian minister has issued an order to arrest the illegal land dealers, Zambia Daily Mail reported on Saturday.
Home Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha Friday told Inspector- General of Police Ephraim Mateyo to investigate and arrest criminals illegally allocating land in Lusaka and other cities in the name of political parties.
"One area that requires your immediate professional action is the illegal allocation of land in Lusaka and other cities. With immediate effect, you shall deal very hard ... and I mean very hard with these criminals who are illegally selling and allocating land," said the minister.
"You must go out and arrest these criminals, including their leaders, who are working behind scenes at the Lusaka City Council and the Ministry of Lands. You must work very closely with the Anti-Corruption Commission and other investigative agencies to remove these criminals from society," he said.
He made the order in Lusaka at Lilayi Police College at the parade of 30 cadet assistant superintendents and 591 recruit constables.
He said there are too many complaints of illegal squatters on other people's land that has title.
"These are also criminals, even those who have constructed illegally," he said.
The minister said he wants the police to arrest those "whether they are MMD (ruling party), PF (opposition party), UDA ( opposition party), UPND (opposition party) or ULP (opposition party) cadres or whatever party. They are criminals because they have broken the law and, therefore arrest them and bring them before the courts of law."
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Attorney-General cancels National Forest lease...
Mr Sangalube, Chief Forest Extension Officer in the Forestry Department, reported to Axon Lunga, Chairman of the Luembe Community Resource Board, that the Attorney-General of Zambia had cancelled the 99 year leasehold tenure on the traditional Mwape customary area part of the West Mvuvye National Forest which had been fraudently awarded to Mr Zaheer Patel by the Ministry of Lands, a notoriously dishonest Ministry, where files, like black rhino, go missing.
The remaining part of the forest has been alienated to a Mr Tom Younger and a Mr Andrew Baldry, to the Senior Chief Luembe, and a small share held by the community. The Department of Forestry will shortly be cancelling title on this area. Only a few days ago, Chief Luembe and his Kapasos (messengers) entered the area to obtain bushmeat - an illegal activity. A court action to be held in Kabwe to remove the present chief from office will shortly be held.
The remaining part of the forest has been alienated to a Mr Tom Younger and a Mr Andrew Baldry, to the Senior Chief Luembe, and a small share held by the community. The Department of Forestry will shortly be cancelling title on this area. Only a few days ago, Chief Luembe and his Kapasos (messengers) entered the area to obtain bushmeat - an illegal activity. A court action to be held in Kabwe to remove the present chief from office will shortly be held.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
The Chairman of the Luembe Headmen's Association says ...
Today the Chairman of the Luembe Headmen's Association, Patson Lungu, said in Lusaka that he would shortly call a meeting of all the headmen in the Luembe Chiefdom to discuss the illegal alienation of the Mvuvye National Forest No. 54 to so-called investors by Senior Chief Luembe - one, Francis Kalungu Njobvu, whom the community wish to remove and have replaced by Devalias Phiri Besa. Lungu said that he would hold another meeting with the Zambia Anti-Corruption Committee, and, after the Headmen's meeting, would petition Parliament to undo the illegal alienation by corrupt elements within the Nyimba District Council, the Forestry Department and the Ministry of Lands. He expects shortly to be joined by Mr Axon Lungu, Chairman of the Luembe Community Resource Board, a Board empowered under the Wildlife Act of 1998.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
West Mvuvye National Forest No. 54 Illegal Alienation
The Chairman of the Luembe Community Resource Board reports that Messrs Tom Younger and Andrew Baldry visited Snr Chief Luembe again recently in order to obtain more land, and were unsuccessful. It appears that the pair have obtained a renewable 99 year statutory lease on that portion of the National Forest which formerly was Luembe customary land. In order for National Forest to be sold, it needs to be de-gazetted with Parliament's approval. This has not been done. Apparently the local community have received a 20% share in the scheme - through an Association. This illegal alienation, as well as the illegal alienation of that part of the National Forest formerly part of the Chief Mwape customary area has been reported to the Commission for Investigations, to the National Movement Against Corruption (NAMAC) and shortly as a petition to Parliament by the Chairman of the CRB and by the Headman's Association of Luembe. The Luembe Conservancy Trust, which applied for a Joint Forest Management Agreement with the Forestry Department in order to develop a participatory conservationa and development scheme two years ago, has to date received no reply to its application, clearly now having been overtaken by current events. Despite numerous contacts with Foresty - particularly its regional representative, Bwalya Chendaoke, they appear to be taking no action.
Senior Chief Luembe is now the subject of an application for an Interim Injunction in the High Court for Zambia under the Chiefs Act (Cap 287 of the Laws of Zambia) restraining the respondent Francis Kalunga Njobvu from acting as Chief Luembe. the plaintiff is Devallias Phiri Besa. Recently the head of the Yendwa clan, Senior Chief Mboroma visited Luembe and travelled to Mwape for a meeting of the Nyendwa chiefs to discuss the issue.
posted by ipam @ 8:44 AM 0 co
Senior Chief Luembe is now the subject of an application for an Interim Injunction in the High Court for Zambia under the Chiefs Act (Cap 287 of the Laws of Zambia) restraining the respondent Francis Kalunga Njobvu from acting as Chief Luembe. the plaintiff is Devallias Phiri Besa. Recently the head of the Yendwa clan, Senior Chief Mboroma visited Luembe and travelled to Mwape for a meeting of the Nyendwa chiefs to discuss the issue.
posted by ipam @ 8:44 AM 0 co
Saturday, November 18, 2006
The Luembe Community Resource Board complain to the Department of Forestry
Last week, Axon Lungu, Chairman of the Luembe Community Resource Board and trustee of the Luembe Conservancy Trust, which represent the community on wildlife and natural resource matters, visited the Department of Forestry in Lusaka to complain of the corruption which has occurred with regard to the alienation of part of the West Mvuvye National Forest to a businessman, of the failure of forestry to take action, and of the ongoing attempts of Chief Luembe, Baldry and Younger - with the conivance of Forestry officials, to make use of that part of the forest presently not alienated. He was unable to see the director, saw a more junior officer who promised to give him and answer in the forthcoming week.
West Mvuvye National forest news...
Two weeks ago, Senior Chief Luembe, accompanied by ex-Councillor Whiteson Njobvu, Messrs Balrdy and Younger, and two investors, came into the West Petauke GMA and passed the Malone camp of Mbeza Safaris stating that they had not been allowed to pass through the Nyamadzi Game Ranch by Derrick van Staden in order to visit the West Mvuvye National Forest, and would visit it from the opposit bank. On the return of the party, the chief informed Maloone staff that the investors wished to employ cooks and drivers.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
The World Rainforest Movement reports...
The major environmental problem reportedly faced by Zambia is deforestation. A case study carried out by the European Forest Institute in 2000 gives figures: the annual rate of deforestation ranges from 250,000 to 900,000 hectares representing 0.5 to 2.0 % of the country's forest area.
Apart from other social and environmental impacts, the consequences of this process are felt on water supplies, since forests regulate much of the catchment area of the Zambezi river and are essential during the annual seven month long dry season.
The problem has reached a point where even the government has acknowledged the risk that forests may be wiped out if it does not put in place measures to stop deforestation. The Minister of Tourism and Natural Resources, Levison Mumba, said recently that the timber industry was a profitable business, but that it did not contribute to the country's gross domestic product because of lack of transparency by the stakeholders involved. He also suspected of tax evasion by the sector as well as illegal logging in forest reserves.
The government has recognised that the timber industry creates jobs, but the export of raw logs from the country deliver no benefit to the nation. The country must move away from the idea of importing furniture from other countries when it has the ability to make high-class furniture, said the Minister, who also expressed the need to support local firms that turn timber into finished goods and to look at the legislation regarding the export of unprocessed timber in order to protect the local market.
The Minister appears to be moving in the right direction in the sense of linking forest conservation and use with social benefits derived from the development of a local timber processing industry. What he may not be aware of is that these sensible ideas may prove difficult to implement within the free trade policies imposed by the industrialized world through the World Trade Organization, which may define them as "barriers to trade", thus declaring them illegal.
Source: WRM's bulletin Nº 60, July 2002.
Apart from other social and environmental impacts, the consequences of this process are felt on water supplies, since forests regulate much of the catchment area of the Zambezi river and are essential during the annual seven month long dry season.
The problem has reached a point where even the government has acknowledged the risk that forests may be wiped out if it does not put in place measures to stop deforestation. The Minister of Tourism and Natural Resources, Levison Mumba, said recently that the timber industry was a profitable business, but that it did not contribute to the country's gross domestic product because of lack of transparency by the stakeholders involved. He also suspected of tax evasion by the sector as well as illegal logging in forest reserves.
The government has recognised that the timber industry creates jobs, but the export of raw logs from the country deliver no benefit to the nation. The country must move away from the idea of importing furniture from other countries when it has the ability to make high-class furniture, said the Minister, who also expressed the need to support local firms that turn timber into finished goods and to look at the legislation regarding the export of unprocessed timber in order to protect the local market.
The Minister appears to be moving in the right direction in the sense of linking forest conservation and use with social benefits derived from the development of a local timber processing industry. What he may not be aware of is that these sensible ideas may prove difficult to implement within the free trade policies imposed by the industrialized world through the World Trade Organization, which may define them as "barriers to trade", thus declaring them illegal.
Source: WRM's bulletin Nº 60, July 2002.
Merrily, Merrily, A Logging We Will Go!...
Chinese logging in Jumbe, Eastern Province
Mrs Mbewe, the Chairperson of the MMD in Chipata, has– with Chinese partnership, and through her company Macram Mining Enterprises, applied formally for a pit saw licence to cut a min of 40 trees and a max of 60 trees in Jumbe district a month, proposing to take out a total of 18,000 hardwood trees. At least 150 trees had been cut before formal issue of any licenses, which should disqualify Macram immediately from any logging. Despite calls to the Forestry Department and the Environmental Council of Zambia to stop the activity, it continued due to the inaction of some junior officers: a junior ECZ officer had failed to report the matter to his superiors, who have now dispatched a team to investigate, and a similar junior lethargy had affected the Forestry Department ranks, though - now that he knows about it, the Principal Extension Officer, Mr Wiseman Sangulube has promised he will follow the matter up and pursue prosecution for illegal cutting and for taking the trees into Malawi without papers.
Mrs Mbewe, the Chairperson of the MMD in Chipata, has– with Chinese partnership, and through her company Macram Mining Enterprises, applied formally for a pit saw licence to cut a min of 40 trees and a max of 60 trees in Jumbe district a month, proposing to take out a total of 18,000 hardwood trees. At least 150 trees had been cut before formal issue of any licenses, which should disqualify Macram immediately from any logging. Despite calls to the Forestry Department and the Environmental Council of Zambia to stop the activity, it continued due to the inaction of some junior officers: a junior ECZ officer had failed to report the matter to his superiors, who have now dispatched a team to investigate, and a similar junior lethargy had affected the Forestry Department ranks, though - now that he knows about it, the Principal Extension Officer, Mr Wiseman Sangulube has promised he will follow the matter up and pursue prosecution for illegal cutting and for taking the trees into Malawi without papers.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
NATIONAL FOREST NO. P54: WEST MVUVYE
NATIONAL FOREST NO. P54: WEST MVUVYE Government Notices
168 of 1955
340 of 1960
Statutory Instrument
158 of 1975
NOTE-All bearings, which are referred to Grid North, and all distances quoted in
this description must be understood as being approximate.
The area must likewise be regarded as an approximation.
Starting at the confluence of the Mvuvye and Mtirizi rivers, the Boundary
follows the left bank of the latter upstream to its confluence with the Katuwa
Stream; thence up the left bank of the Katuwa to a forest beacon at its source;
thence on a bearing of 232 degrees for 5,577.84 metres; thence in a straight
line to Beacon NRP22 on Chipirinyuma Hill; thence on a bearing of 320 degrees
for 5,791.2 metres; thence on a bearing of 325 degrees to the source of the
Nyamadzi stream; thence down the right bank of this stream to a forest beacon
situated east of the source of the Kalambola Stream on a bearing of 108 degrees
from that source; thence to the source of the Kalambola Stream and continuing
down its right bank to its confluence with the Luangwa River; thence up the left
bank of the latter river to its confluence with the Mvuvye River; thence up the
left bank of the latter to a forest beacon at the foot of the Kambala Hill
ridge; thence in a general south-westerly direction along the top of this ridge
to a forest beacon on the Chimanga Stream; thence up the left bank of this
stream to a forest beacon at its source; thence south-eastwards in a straight
line to a forest beacon at the source of the Nyakamba Stream; thence down the
right bank of this stream to a forest beacon near its confluence with the Lupezi
stream; thence south-eastwards in a straight line to the confluence of the
Mvuvye and Mtirizi rivers, the point of starting.
Included within the National Forest but not within the above described
boundaries are the eastern, southern and western slopes of the Chipirinyuma
Hill.
The above described area, in extent 62,728.5 hectares approximately, is shown
bordered green upon a plan numbered FR102/1 deposited in the office of the
Surveyor-General, signed by him and dated 5th October, 1960.
168 of 1955
340 of 1960
Statutory Instrument
158 of 1975
NOTE-All bearings, which are referred to Grid North, and all distances quoted in
this description must be understood as being approximate.
The area must likewise be regarded as an approximation.
Starting at the confluence of the Mvuvye and Mtirizi rivers, the Boundary
follows the left bank of the latter upstream to its confluence with the Katuwa
Stream; thence up the left bank of the Katuwa to a forest beacon at its source;
thence on a bearing of 232 degrees for 5,577.84 metres; thence in a straight
line to Beacon NRP22 on Chipirinyuma Hill; thence on a bearing of 320 degrees
for 5,791.2 metres; thence on a bearing of 325 degrees to the source of the
Nyamadzi stream; thence down the right bank of this stream to a forest beacon
situated east of the source of the Kalambola Stream on a bearing of 108 degrees
from that source; thence to the source of the Kalambola Stream and continuing
down its right bank to its confluence with the Luangwa River; thence up the left
bank of the latter river to its confluence with the Mvuvye River; thence up the
left bank of the latter to a forest beacon at the foot of the Kambala Hill
ridge; thence in a general south-westerly direction along the top of this ridge
to a forest beacon on the Chimanga Stream; thence up the left bank of this
stream to a forest beacon at its source; thence south-eastwards in a straight
line to a forest beacon at the source of the Nyakamba Stream; thence down the
right bank of this stream to a forest beacon near its confluence with the Lupezi
stream; thence south-eastwards in a straight line to the confluence of the
Mvuvye and Mtirizi rivers, the point of starting.
Included within the National Forest but not within the above described
boundaries are the eastern, southern and western slopes of the Chipirinyuma
Hill.
The above described area, in extent 62,728.5 hectares approximately, is shown
bordered green upon a plan numbered FR102/1 deposited in the office of the
Surveyor-General, signed by him and dated 5th October, 1960.
Perfidious alienations...Phase 1
Phase 1 of the alienation - under a 99 year lease, to Zaeed Patel, son of Gulam Patel, of part of the West Mvuvye National Forest No. 54 in Nyimba/Petauke district is now complete. This portion of what was historically part of the Mwape traditonal lands was 'sold' to Patel by Chieftainess Mwape, without the full agreement of her headmen, but with the agreement of the Nyimba District Council, and a lease issued in a short time by the Ministry of Lands, despite this being a National Forest. The Forestry Department has advised me that their hands are tied as the lease was issued by an official in the office of the Commisioner of Lands.
Prior to this, as documentation earlier in the blog attests, her brother, Senior Chief Luembe, had agreed - as a co-director of the Luembe Trust, to seek a Joint Forest Management agreement with the Forestry Department, and to enter into a separate agreement with his sister in order for her chiefdom and its people to benefit from the appropriate development of the forest based on a landuse plan agreed to by the Forestry Department.
Phase 2: the alienation of what was once part of Luembe's country is now under way, as posted documentation will reveal. As a result of this, and other misdemeanours, the Luembe Headmen and people of Luembe are oncemore seeking to have the present chief impeached.
Prior to this, as documentation earlier in the blog attests, her brother, Senior Chief Luembe, had agreed - as a co-director of the Luembe Trust, to seek a Joint Forest Management agreement with the Forestry Department, and to enter into a separate agreement with his sister in order for her chiefdom and its people to benefit from the appropriate development of the forest based on a landuse plan agreed to by the Forestry Department.
Phase 2: the alienation of what was once part of Luembe's country is now under way, as posted documentation will reveal. As a result of this, and other misdemeanours, the Luembe Headmen and people of Luembe are oncemore seeking to have the present chief impeached.
An early intimation...
The Luembe Conservancy Trust
P.O. Box 31333,
Longacres, Lusaka
Tel: 1 28 22 44
gamefields@zamnet.zm
CONFIDENTIAL
The Secretary
Nyimba District Council
Nyimba
Dear Sir,
Re Alienation of land by Chieftainess Mwape to a Mr Zaeed Patel
I was recently meeting with the senior members of the Nyalugwe Community Resource Board who informed me that they had just heard from a Mr Thomas Mwengwe that he had just facilitated the agreement of Chieftainess Mwape and her headmen to the alienation of a large area of land lying in favour of a Zaeed Patel between the Mvuvye and Nyamadzi streams on the east bank of the Luangwa river.
As I have been advising the Mwape family concerning their desire to redress the actions of the late Chieftainess in alienating the Kaundi country bordering on Sandwe GMA, by returning the land to customary control under the newly appointed Chieftainess, I am dumbfounded that the Chieftainess has taken such an inconsidered action in recommending that the land be alienated to Patel for a 99 year renewable lease, effectively removing the land from her community in perpetuity. As you know our Trust has been in negotiation with the Forestry Department concerning a public private partnership in the sustainable use of the West Mvuvye National Forest (No.54), and we have been waiting for a meeting between Mwape and Senior Chief Luembe to agree to the scheme going ahead. Mwape had been drawn in to the scheme in order to give her people an opportunity to improve their livelihoods through the investment which would follow. This is the very area which she has now made an attempt to alienate.
I wish therefore to draw your attention to the following:
• The West Mvuvye is a gazetted National Forest and is therefore not under customary control. Her actions, and any resulting agreement is therefore illegal.
• Given the history of alienations in Nyimba District (Luembe, Nyalugwe and Mwape) it is incumbent on the Council not to sign off on any large alienations, though in this case they have no power to do so, it being a National Forest, confirmed by the Provincial Forestry Officer, Mr Chendaoke
• The Trust has the Council as a trustee, and therefore the Council is aware of the current efforts to bring investment and development to the region. The exchange of land in perpetuity for salaula, vehicles and grinding mills would represent a shameful abrogation of customary authority and Council responsibilities
• Part of the West Mvuvye was once customary land, but it is no longer, being converted - with the agreement of the chiefdoms, to the highest status of protection
• East Mvuvye may soon be de-gazetted and returned to customary land, but this should not be done for West Mvuvye.
Yours sincerely,
I.P.A. Manning
Co-Director
c.c. Lazarus Mulowa
c.c Senior Chief Luembe
c.c Chairman Luembe Community Resource Board
c.c Mr Chendaoke, Forestry Department.
P.O. Box 31333,
Longacres, Lusaka
Tel: 1 28 22 44
gamefields@zamnet.zm
CONFIDENTIAL
The Secretary
Nyimba District Council
Nyimba
Dear Sir,
Re Alienation of land by Chieftainess Mwape to a Mr Zaeed Patel
I was recently meeting with the senior members of the Nyalugwe Community Resource Board who informed me that they had just heard from a Mr Thomas Mwengwe that he had just facilitated the agreement of Chieftainess Mwape and her headmen to the alienation of a large area of land lying in favour of a Zaeed Patel between the Mvuvye and Nyamadzi streams on the east bank of the Luangwa river.
As I have been advising the Mwape family concerning their desire to redress the actions of the late Chieftainess in alienating the Kaundi country bordering on Sandwe GMA, by returning the land to customary control under the newly appointed Chieftainess, I am dumbfounded that the Chieftainess has taken such an inconsidered action in recommending that the land be alienated to Patel for a 99 year renewable lease, effectively removing the land from her community in perpetuity. As you know our Trust has been in negotiation with the Forestry Department concerning a public private partnership in the sustainable use of the West Mvuvye National Forest (No.54), and we have been waiting for a meeting between Mwape and Senior Chief Luembe to agree to the scheme going ahead. Mwape had been drawn in to the scheme in order to give her people an opportunity to improve their livelihoods through the investment which would follow. This is the very area which she has now made an attempt to alienate.
I wish therefore to draw your attention to the following:
• The West Mvuvye is a gazetted National Forest and is therefore not under customary control. Her actions, and any resulting agreement is therefore illegal.
• Given the history of alienations in Nyimba District (Luembe, Nyalugwe and Mwape) it is incumbent on the Council not to sign off on any large alienations, though in this case they have no power to do so, it being a National Forest, confirmed by the Provincial Forestry Officer, Mr Chendaoke
• The Trust has the Council as a trustee, and therefore the Council is aware of the current efforts to bring investment and development to the region. The exchange of land in perpetuity for salaula, vehicles and grinding mills would represent a shameful abrogation of customary authority and Council responsibilities
• Part of the West Mvuvye was once customary land, but it is no longer, being converted - with the agreement of the chiefdoms, to the highest status of protection
• East Mvuvye may soon be de-gazetted and returned to customary land, but this should not be done for West Mvuvye.
Yours sincerely,
I.P.A. Manning
Co-Director
c.c. Lazarus Mulowa
c.c Senior Chief Luembe
c.c Chairman Luembe Community Resource Board
c.c Mr Chendaoke, Forestry Department.
West Mvuvye and the Luembe Trust
SENIOR CHIEF LUEMBE, DIRECTOR THE LUEMBE CONSERVANCY TRUST COMPANY
(Limited guarantee company under registration)
Senior Chief Luembe. Private Bag 3, Nyimba
P.O. Box 31333, Longacres, Lusaka, Zambia.
Telephone: (260) 1 25 60 22
gamefields@zamnet.zm
www.projectsafrica.com
MVUVYE WEST NATIONAL FOREST
Memorandum of Understanding
The Mwape Customary Authority
1 PARTIES
This document proposes an agreement between Senior Chief Luembe acting on behalf of The Luembe Conservancy Trust Company Limited – a trust established to sustainably manage the natural resources of the Luembe, and the Mwape Customary Authority
2 PURPOSE
The Trust is in negotiation with the Department of Forestry to enter into a joint management agreement with them for the sustainable utilization of the West Mvuvye National Forest. This agreement would give sole user rights for natural resources – under certain conditions, to the Trus,t with the responsibility for biodiversity protection and sustained utilization of the timber resources. To this end, while negotiations are in progress, the Trust wishes to enter into an agreement with the Mwape Customary Authority to share revenue and benefits on the basis of the traditional divisions of the national forest i.e. as existed before the national forest was alienated from both Luembe and Mwape.
2.1 Background
Under the Lands Act of 1995, Government (GRZ) confirmed the responsibility of the customary authority for land held under customary tenure – and two further acts, 1) the Wildlife Act of 1998 prescribes the election of Community Resource Boards (CRBs) AND provides as one of its main missions: ‘to facilitate the active participation of local communities in the management of the wildlife estate’, and, 2) the Forestry Act No. 7 of 1999, which though yet to be enacted is already advancing its de-centralization and community ownership provisions. Making use of such mechanisms, and greatly expanding them, a Chipuna conservancy partnership (three-legged stool) of customary authority, NGO and investor/manager is being established in the Luembe area of Luangwa Valley. This conservancy approach is directly in line with the Zambia Wildlife Authority’s (ZAWA) Draft Policy on Private Wildlife Estates and Other Novel Use of Wildlife (May 2003), presently being circulated for comment, which emphasizes strategic partnerships between itself, the communities and the private sector in developing the community wildlife estate. However, wildlife is only one of the natural resources involved and it is now necessary to introduce a co-management agreement with Forestry Department as an integral part of the holistically managed conservancy, and in addition, to forge similar agreements with Ministries responsible for other resources.
1.2 Chipuna Conservancy Development
A Chipuna Conservancy Development provides the essential structure for rural development of investment, land and community partners, as well as the necessary expertise to carry out scientifically directed integrated development. Crucially, the Chipuna relies on investment - as apposed to donor involvement, and uses land – rather than takes ownership of it.
Under the Lands Act, and that provided by customary law, Senior Chief Luembe and his 353 headmen (the Luembe Customary Authority (LCA)) have therefore allocated ‘rights to use and occupation of land under customary tenure’ of all the land under its control (excluding land for settlement and agricutureal development) to the Luembe Conservancy Trust Company, a non-profit trust whose Subscribers are the LCA, The Nyimba District Council, The Luembe Community Resource Board (LCRB), ProjectsAfrica and Gamefields Limited (five organizations), with ProjectsAfrica responsible for facilitating community projects, and Gamefields Limited the principal investment facilitator and manager of the conservancy. Income will be received into a Luembe Trust Fund from rentals and levies paid by Gamefields.
2.4 Purpose of this agreement
• That the West Mvuvye National Forest become part of the Luembe Conservancy overseen by the Luembe Trust, the basis of this being a co-management agreement (public private partnership) with the Forestry Department
• That the Luembe Trust and the Forestry Department jointly provide a management plan in which eco-tourism and logging for value-added community run co-operatives and businesses takes place
• That the appropriate management and use of the Forest take place under the general supervision of the Luembe Trust and the Forestry Department.
• That, through this specific agreement, Luembe and Mwape agree to share revenue on the basis of the original traditional lands under their control
2.5 The Principles
The parties to abide by the following principles in the development of a contract:
• The Forestry Department to take on the Luembe Trust as its exclusive partner in the management of the Mvuvye, agreeing not to issue logging licenses or any other rights of access to any other person or organization
• That the Luembe Trust agree to conserve all the resources and to follow a management plan mutually to be agreed upon
• The Luembe Trust to oversee the equitable sharing of benefits between the Mwape and Luembe communities
3. MUTUAL INTEREST OF THE PARTIES
To ensure the conservation of the Mvuvye, and the sustained use of its forest for the benefit of local communities; and by so doing, to avoid and deter any further invasion and settlement of the forest, as well as the illegal use of its resources.
4 AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES
4.1 General
To jointly ensure the conservation of the Mvuvye Forest
4.2 Luembe Trust Company and Gamefields Limited
The Luembe Trust would have responsibility for seeing that an agreed management plan for the area is implemented, and for the performance of its management contractor, Gamefields Limited
4.3 Forestry Department
The FD would be responsible for full assistance and advice on the controlled exploitation of the forest for the benefit of the local economy
4.4 Prohibitions
• The FD to give exclusive use of the forest to the Luembe Trust
• The Luembe Trust to assume, with the FD, full responsibility for its management
5 SHARED CONCERNS
The Parties share a common concern for the preservation of the forest and the avoidance of any further illegal settlement or occupation for subsistence agriculture. They also wish to see the forest be of long-term benefit to the local community through appropriate tourism development, forest utilization and the production of products from such utilization
6 SUBSTANCE OF AGREEMENT
The cooperating agencies agree to share information of mutual concern and interest regarding the Mvuvye National Forest
7 EXPECTED OUTCOMES
• The protection of a national asset
• The scientifically managed sustained use of its timber and eco-tourism potential
• The protection of its biodiversity
• A stable and increasing source of income for the Mwape and Luembe communitie communities
• A well managed area based on sound conservation principles
• Support to GRZ policies of devolution, as well the Forestry Department’s progressive policies around co-management of national and local forests
8 STANDING COMMITTEE
To facilitate the implementation of this agreement, the cooperating agencies each agree to designate a liaison officer to serve on a standing committee that will meet as needed. Matters for consideration by the standing committee are to include a review of each agency’s participation in this agreement, an assessment of the agreement’s effectiveness, and modifications that might be necessary. As appropriate, the committee will address urgent issues and specific cases of serious non-compliance.
9 LIAISON OFFICERS/CONTACT PERSON
For Luembe Trust Company Limited:
Senior Chief Luembe
Private Bag 3
Nyimba
Whiteson Njobvu
Chairman
Nyimba District Council
Tel:06 374061
Ian Manning CBiol
Director
PO Box 31333
Longacres, Lusaka.
1 25 60 22
gamefields@zamnet.zm
For Mwape Customary Authority
Chieftainess Mwape
Private Bag,
Petauke.
For Forestry Department
Bwalya Chendaoke
Provincial Forestry Officer
P.O. Box 510095
Chipata
10 ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL OF AUTHORIZING OFFICIALS
For Luembe Trust and Luembe Customary Authority:
Signature: __________________
Name: Senior Chief Luembe
Date: _________________ at ___________________
For Mwape Customary Authority
Chieftainess Mwape
Signature:_____________________
Name:
Date: _________________ at ___________________
West Mvuvye...
COPY OF E-MAIL BEING SENT
21 October 2003
TO:
Bwalya Chendaoke
Provincial Forestry Officer (Eastern Province)
Chipata,
Dear Mr Chendaoke,
re WEST MVUVYE NATIONAL FOREST #54
I am glad I was able to speak to you in person today, and to learn that our application is timely given the recent lifting of a ban on forest utilization and your office now receiving applications for logging.
It is essential that the Luembe Trust is able to secure rights to the forest which will safeguard the biodiversity and allow for the greater conservation controls necessary. Although our immediate wish is to protect the area and develop its eco-tourism potential, we would also - working under a joint-management agreement with the Forestry Department, wish to utilize sustainable timber resources so as to provide the basis for a local industry for the community. Essentially, this would be done through the Luembe Natural Resources Committee soon to be registered as a Society with the Registrar of Societies, as part of the Conservancy Trust. It is essential, therefore, that no permits are issued which might threaten the integrity of the Conservancy and the income to the development fund for the area. Moneys received from the fund would be used for both Luembe and Mwape, according to traditional territorial rights in existence. We therefore wish to enter into an agreement for a concessionary use of the forest as a whole - bearing in mind that a large part of it to the west of the Luembe-Mwape road is being populated.
I shall endeavour to obtain a signature or letter to this effect from the Chairman of the Nyimba District Council (Councillor Whiteson Njobvu), and one from Senior Chief Luembe - although the latter might take a little longer.
I would appreciate a copy of draft guidelines which you and your committee have drawn up on co-management agreements. As I have helped ZAWA with guidelines on PPP national policy having to do with similar arrangements for national parks, you might find it useful.
I greatly look forward to meeting with you shortly.
Sincerely,
Ian Manning CBiol
Trustee
LUEMBE CONSERVANCY TRUST COMPANY LIMITED
(Company limited by guarantee presently under registration by Registrar of Companies)
West Mvuvye National Forest No. 54 Alienation
THE LUEMBE CONSERVANCY TRUST COMPANY LIMITED
Private Bag 3, Nyimba
Telephone: 06 374061 (Secretary: Nyimba District Council)
Lewis Construction Building, Kabelenga Road, Lusaka.
gamefields@zamnet.zm
________________________________________________________________________
21 October 2003 Priority Mail
Bwalya Chendaoke PFO
Provincial Forestry Officer (Eastern Province)
Forestry Department
P.O. Box 510095,
Chipata,
Dear Mr Chendaoke,
re WEST MVUVYE NATIONAL FOREST #54
This letter is to confirm the e-mail (see below) now being sent to you in respect of the above national Forest Reserve by our fellow trustee, Mr Ian Manning of Gamefields Ltd.
It is essential that the Luembe Trust is able to secure rights to the forest which will safeguard the biodiversity and allow for the greater conservation controls necessary. Although our immediate wish is to protect the area and develop its eco-tourism potential, we would also - working under a joint-management agreement with the Forestry Department, wish to utilize sustainable timber resources so as to provide the basis for a local industry for the community. Essentially, this would be done through the Luembe Natural Resources Committee soon to be registered as a Society with the Registrar of Societies, as part of the Conservancy Trust. It is essential, therefore, that no permits are issued which might threaten the integrity of the Conservancy and the income to the development fund for the area. Moneys received from the fund would be used for both Luembe and Mwape, according to traditional territorial rights in existence. We therefore wish to enter into an agreement for a concessionary use of the forest as a whole - bearing in mind that a large part of it to the west of the Luembe-Mwape road is being populated.
We greatly look forward to an early reply.
Sincerely,
Senior Chief Luembe: CO DIRECTOR:……………………
Chairman of Nyimba District Council: TRUSTEE…………………………………………………….
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