MP WARNS AGAINST ENCROACHMENT
THE encroachment of Chongwe River has a negative effect on the future of the water body and the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) must investigate it, Member of Parliament Japhen Mwakalombe has said.
Mr. Mwakalombe acknowledged the negative impact that human activities were causing on the river.
He therefore promised to engage WARMA on the matter so as to avert the negative impact of the human activities.
The MP said this when he visited Chinkuli ward to check on developmental projects in the area.
Residents told Mr Mwakalombe that some commercial farmers along the Chongwe River had diverted water into their dams.
“This river provides our livelihood. We do gardens along the river to raise money for our school going children and household consumption, but the damming by some farms is inhibiting our agriculture activities,” a concerned resident said.
Mr Mwakalombe, who is also Copperbelt Minister, observed that climate change was real, but human activities should be regulated in order to conserve water bodies.
He said Government had come up with various policies and laws including the water rights which were aimed at protecting water bodies.
Government, he said, had done an assessment of the situation along the Chongwe River and had come up with measures to conserve the river.
“I would like to advise you against gardening in the banks of the river. Your gardens must be at least 50 metres away from the river. If you disturb the vegetation long the river, you will be causing silting of the river which would continue to impact negatively on the environment,” he explained.