By Elia Chibwe

Lilongwe May 18, Mana: Kasungu District Council has said the council with the support from government of Flanders through Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is in the initial stages of implementing new land laws to prevent communities from encroaching into protected areas.

District Commissioner (DC) for Kasungu, James Kanyangalazi disclosed this Friday that the initiative would ensure communities surrounding the protected areas register their land parcels.

"Amongst the laws that we are implementing is the customary land act, 2016, as amended in 2022. One of such ambitions is the customary land registration.

"This is the initiative that will make sure that communities surrounding the protected areas such as Kasungu National Park, register their land parcels. This will make communities aware of their land parcels boundaries, hence reduction in encroachment onto the protected areas," he said.

Kanyangalazi said so far, they have already sensitized all communities residing along the boundaries of the protected areas about this initiative and consequences for law breakers.

"During the sensitization meetings, communities are also informed of the adverse consequences unlawful use or cultivation in these protected areas," he said.

The DC said the communities around the Park have been advised to grow crops along the park boundaries that don't attract elephants like tobacco, sunflower and paprika.

Park Manager for Kasungu National Park, Ndaona Kumanga said encroachment was a big challenge that has greatly affected Kasungu National Park.

"Encroachment is one of the issues that we are addressing. In both sides of Zambia and Malawi, people are extending their farms into a protected area. This is a very big challenge in the park," he pointed out.

Kumanga said Chisinga side in the northern tip of the park as greatly affected side where they managed to arrest some people two years ago.

He said community members of Chulu area protruded inside the park, the thing which caused conflict with the park department.

"Apart from Chisinga we had Chulu community. When we were trying to put up the fence that side, it happened that community members protruded inside the park, so when we tried to put the fence line people started making some noise to say the fence is taking their part," the Manager said.

Kumanga said he believes that the fence that is being constructed would assist in solving challenges of encroachment.

Director of Forestry, Titus Zulu said the challenge of encroachment was not limited to parks but forests have been greatly affected in the country.

"Several forests in the country have been affected by encroachment challenges. This includes significant area within Dzalanyama Forest Reserve, among others. The exact number of affected forests is continuously monitored through our National Monitoring Unit," he added.

According to Zulu, 88 forests in the country have been affected with encroachment challenges.