LAND ENCROACHMENT IN CHIEFDOMS RAMPANT
LAND encroachment among chiefdoms is a countrywide matter especially in Mumbwa and Itezhe Tezhi districts that needs quick intervention by stakeholders before it gets out of hand, says Itezhi Tezhi district commissioner (DC), Hendricks Kahimana.
Mr Kahimana said a number of chiefdoms in the country have in one way or the other encroached in the neighbouring chiefdom and that most of such cases have not yet been resolved as was the case between Senior Chief Shakumbila of Mumbwa and Chieftainess Mwezwa of Itezhi Tezhi districts.
Speaking to the Daily Nation in an interview, Mr Kahimana revealed that the leadership in the two districts would next week meet to settle the land dispute between the two chiefdoms.
"In the case of senior chief Shakumbila and chieftainess Mwezwa we have set next week to engage the two traditional leaders to sought out the issue. Many more chiefdoms have encroachment in neighbouring chiefdoms so its a national issue which needed quick intervention by stakeholders involved," said Mr Kahimana.
Mr Kahimana stated that the encroachment issue had become rampant with the increase in the number of young chiefs that were being installed because they wanted to know the boundaries of their chiefdoms.
"The issue of encroachment is all over because we have a high trend of young chiefs who want to know exactly where their ancestors used to border," said Mr Kahimana.
The DC has since called on local authorities in the two districts a d other stakeholders to move in and give the correct position on where the boundaries end for Senior Chief Shakumbila and Chieftaness Mwezwa inoder to harmonize the situation.