VEEP assures chiefs on proposed new land policy

GOVERNMENT has no intentions of taking away land from the traditional leadership in Zambia but that the proposed new land policy is meant to improve the administration of land in the country, says VicePresident Inonge Wina.

Mrs Wina said Zambia had embarked on a land audit and mapping and that it was the expectation of government that the participation of the traditional leaders was important in the process that would see the administration of land improved for the benefit of all citizens including women.

The Vice-President said Zambia was lucky to have Mr Edgar Lungu as President of the Republic of Zambia because he was gender-sensitive and ardently believed in gender equality and equity.

She said many countries in the world are re-examining land legislation and that Zambia was still grappling with land challenges on account of the land laws that were discriminatory and not streamlined to best manage land administration.

She said the fact that many countries in the world were revising their policies and legislation on land administration meant that Zambia should not remain behind hence the need for the country’s land legislation re-examined.

This is according to the statement availed to the Daily Nation by First Secretary to the Press in New York, Wallen Simwaka.

She said women and girls in Zambia were often discriminated and victimised in many areas including their participation in economic activities and the right to acquire and own land yet the majority of the women are plying their living on land that they do not own.

“The 62nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women like other high-level meetings at the United Nations (UN) is a platform to address gender equality throughout the world. It was an opportunity to share experiences and acquire as much information as possible on the empowerment of women and girls in rural areas. The inclusion of women in decisionmaking positions including the need for women to own land can spur economic growth for many countries. “Our traditional leaders should know that government has no intention to take land away from them. Many countries are re-examining their laws and legislation on land and we should do the same in Zambia,” The Vice-President said.

Mrs Wina was speaking to Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) in New York, just at the just-ended 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) where Zambia learnt and shared experiences on the empowerment of women and girls in rural areas.