KASAMA VILLAGERS PROTEST OVER LAND GRAB

SCORES of people from five villages in Chief Munkonge’s area in Kasama have protested at the Northern Province administration over a piece of land they claim has been grabbed from them.

The villagers, who thronged the provincial administration seeking audience with permanent secretary Jobbicks Kalumba, urged the government to intervene in the matter involving thousands of hectares.

The group, which included village headmen, was however addressed by deputy permanent secretary Boniface Mbuzi.

One of the residents, Mr Kenny Mulenga told Mr Mbuzi that the land in question included Chintanshika, Natande, Kafukula, Na Monica and Mponda villages, among others.

He explained that a Ms Flavia Musonda-Musakanya claims to legally own the land on which they had farmed and lived all their lives and because of this confusion, their lives had become difficult as agriculture was their mainstay.

“My family and I have no land to grow crops now because our land has been snatched away, “Mr Mulenga said.

Another protester, Ms Matilda Chisala said the residents in the five villages were now having difficulties to feed and look after their families because they are made to pay Ms Musakanya’s workers whenever they grow crops like cassava maize, beans and millet in their respective villages.

But addressing the protesters, Mr Mbuzi asked the residents to remain calm while the government tried resolve the issue in the quickest possible manner.

Mr Mbuzi added that cooperation was needed between the residents and government if the land dispute was to be resolved amicably.

He said the government was concerned about their plight especially that the land issue in these particular villages has been dragging on for a long time

Meanwhile, efforts to get a comment from Ms Musakanya proved futile by press time.