US$ 4.3 Million raised from sale of Mukula logs

Lands and Natural Resources Minister Jean Kapata (Picture by Albert Mpezeni)

Lands Minister Jean Kapata has disclosed that US4.3 million has been raised from the sale of the illegally harvested and confiscated Mukula logs by the Zambia Forest and Forestry Industry Corporation (ZAFFICO) since august 2017.

In a ministerial statement to Parliament on how the proceeds from the sale of Mukulu trees are being accounted for, Ms Kapata says in 2018 alone ZAFFICO has been issued with nine export permits for the forfeited illegally harvested Mukula logs.

She says the proceeds from the sale of the Mukula logs are being invested towards the resuscitation of Kawambwa tea company which government handed over to Zaffico manage.

Ms Kapata adds that all procedures pertaining to the utilisation of the proceeds raised from the sale of Mukulu logs have been adhered to.

She says authority to utilise the raised funds was sought from ministry of finance and that ZAFFICO was subsequently granted authority to use the proceeds of mukulu tree species to revamp Kawambwa tea estate.

The minister adds that the market where ZAFFICO sales the Mukulu logs is china.