Hichilema asks chiefs to give citizens land near water bodies for irrigation

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PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has called on traditional leaders across the country to make land available for citizens around water bodies such as rivers for irrigation purposes.

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Speaking at the Chuundu Lwiindi traditional ceremony of the Leya people of Kazungula district yesterday, President Hichilema said this initiative will allow the country to cultivate maize and other crops throughout the year.

He said giving farmers land near water bodies will in turn go a long way in making Zambia food secure and therefore, foster development.

President Hichilema promised that he will soon call for a meeting with chiefs to plan on how land can be made available near water bodies like Lake Kariba for commercial farming.

“My royal highnesses across the country, we need to make land available on all the water bodies around the water bodies in the country, Zambezi river here, Lake Kariba here, Kafue river and also many other rivers, Lukulu river in the Northern province and all the river systems where we have perennial water bodies.”

“I ask you and I will be calling a meeting so that we make land available for irrigation so that we can put commercial agriculture in these corridors and we produce food, 12 months a year through irrigation and then we can secure our country from insecurities. This is my ask, I make it publicly but we will get to work, we will reach out to the chiefs urgently so that we develop these pieces of land for commercial agriculture then we can secure food for our country. If we remain insecure we remain vulnerable and will fail to deliver on development,” said President Hichilema.

The Head of State further called on citizens across the country to change their attitude towards climate change and adapt by looking for resilient solutions to the problem.

President Hichilema reminded the country that climate change was here to stay and needed sharp citizens who can work hard to adapt to it by learning new habits.

“I’m also calling on the citizens to learn to work hard, when these opportunities are available, we the citizens must work hard.“

“Here is my call to the people of Zambia, you have seen what climate change has done through the drought, you have seen the devastation this has brought to our food situation, food insecurity, you have seen what this devastation of the worst drought in living memory has done to our energy, shortages and therefore slowing down our economy.”

“We need to change our ways we need to do things with climate change in our mind, we need to adapt and build resilience,” stated President Hichilema.

He further assured support to citizens who choose to work with the government to bring awareness about climate change.”

By Catherine Pule

Kalemba, December 16, 2024

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