— Traditional leadership hail govt’s move on Integrated Land Management programme

Traditional leadership hail govt’s move on Integrated Land Management programme

Mbala, August 2 nd, 2014, ZANIS — TRADITIONAL leaders from Luapula and Northern Provinces have welcomed the newly introduced Zambia Integrated Land Management Information System (ZILMIS).

 

Senior chief Nsokolo of the Mambwe people of Mbala says  the ZILMIS programme was a good development that will benefits his subjects and the country as a whole.

 

He said the system will enable traditional leaders to keep records on land under their jurisdiction.

 

‘’Previously chiefdoms had no records on where to record matters involving land so this system has come at the right time,’’ he said.

 

ZANIS reports that the traditional ruler said this after a meeting organized by the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection meant to sensitize chiefs in land administration issues.

 

He  has appealed to the ministry of lands to decentralize their operations and equip officers at the district level with necessary tools to enable them carry out their work effectively.

 

Chief Nsokolo called for immediate implementation of the ZILMIS programme, saying the country was already behind in land management issues.

 

On Thursday this week, Ministry of Lands held a one day seminar for a number of chiefs drawn from Luapula and Northern provinces at Kasama Lodge.

 

During the official opening, Northern Province Assistant Secretary Royd Tembo said government recognized the important role that traditional leaders played in land administration.

 

Mr. Tembo said that chiefs were major stakeholders in land administration especially that most land is administered through traditional leaders as customary land.

 

The ZILMIS programme which commenced in 2013 is meant to fully computerized the land administration system in the country.