Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Senior Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II of the Soli people of Chongwe District has urged government to put in place strong policies that will end the indiscriminate cutting of trees.
And the traditional leader has pledged her commitment to working closely with government and various partners in addressing deforestation and the negative effects of climate change.
Chieftainess Nkomeshya said this when the Minister for green economy and environment led a delegation of officials from ABSA, WWF and CSR in paying a courtesy call on her ahead of the launch of the ‘plant and grow a million trees’ campaign in Chongwe district.
She expressed concern over the increase in deforestation, a situation she says has affected her Chiefdom and the country at large negatively, including in the aspect of provision of food.
The traditional leader bemoaned the lack of strong laws to protect the forests from extinction through indiscriminate cutting down of trees.
Chieftainess Nkomeshya has since stressed the need for concerted efforts from traditional leaders, government, civic leaders, and the private sector among others to address deforestation and climate change.
Speaking earlier, Green economy and environment minister, Collins Nzovu who bemoaned the high rate of deforestation in the country appealed to Chieftainess Nkomeshya to become an ambassador of climate change and the fight against deforestation as she has done with women and girls rights.
And ABSA Managing Director Mizinga Melu assured her banks commitment to working closely with Chieftainess Nkomeshya to address climate change in the country.
Zambia loses about 250,000 to 300,000 trees per hectare annually through deforestation.