LOCUST INVASION CONTROL MEASURES INTENSIFIED

GOVERNMENT has intensified control measures along the border in Kazungula to avert a possible fresh invasion of the African migratory locusts from some neighbouring countries.

Senior government officials and experts toured Kasaya and Sikaunzwe flood plains in Kazungula to assess the threat of another locust invasion.

Ministry of Agriculture Principal Agricultural

Officer Paul Nyambe said Kasaya and Sikaunzwe were still under threat as two neighbouring countries had already indicated that the dangerous locusts had started breeding in their territories.

Mr Nyambe explained that the situation was unpredictable as there was no mechanism to prevent the migratory locusts from across the border into Zambia.

“We are dealing with a situation where we have absolutely no control with what is happening in the two neighbouring countries especially that one of the two countries does not subscribe to the regional bodies on locusts control to which Zambia is an active member,” he explained.

He said this challenge could only be resolved using diplomatic channels through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He however said there was need to increase surveillance along the common frontier separated by the Zambezi River.

Mr. Nyambe said the African migratory locusts were destructive as their invasion leads to total crop failure thereby inducing severe hunger in the affected communities.

And Southern Province Permanent Secretary,

Joyce Bwacha, who was accompanied by Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit Regional Coordinator Esnart Makwakwa has directed experts to double efforts through stakeholder collaboration in order to thwart any possible invasion of the migratory locusts.

Ms Bwacha emphasised that it would be cheaper for government to prevent the locusts from entering the country than to do aerial spraying.