WE NEED NEW MAPS SOUTH MINISTER
SOUTHERN Province Minister Edify Hamukale says there is need to devise new maps that illustrate the boundaries of the newly created districts in the country.
Dr. Hamukale says such an exercise should be spearheaded by planning professionals.
He observed that planners should realise that they have a critical role to play in the country's development.
Dr Hamukale was speaking during the official opening of the Planners Institute of Zambia (PIZ) conference in Livingstone on Wednesday.
“As planners you need to generate new maps as a country, we need new political maps that will show the boundaries of the newly created districts.
What we have are old maps and I do not think Chipangali even appears on the maps that we currently have,” he said.
Dr Hamukale said there was need for councils in various districts to invest in geographic systems and remote sensing tools which will be able to produce current and predictive information to enhance development.
He said the information which will be created from the geographic systems and remote sensing tools will be useful in the production of land planning and management.
“Good ethics are a fundamental requirement of any profession. As planners yours is a profession that dictates how the country develops and mistakes made in planning today will last for generations,” he said.
And PIZ president, Cooper Chibomba said there was need for Government to consider funding and promoting the use of Geographic information systems for land development.
“We appeal for increased funding to planning organisations to strengthen the use of technology and drive planning decisions using technology decision making tools such as Geographic Information Systems,” Mr Chibomba said.