Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) has expressed deep concern over a statement attributed to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Elijah Muchima, as reported in yesterday’s edition of the NewsDiggers paper. According to the statement, Minister Muchima has pledged preferential treatment for economically disadvantaged members of the United Party for National Development (UPND) during land allocation, citing their alleged marginalisation under the previous Patriotic Front (PF) regime.
TI-Z Executive Director Maurice Nyambe acknowledges the issue of marginalisation affecting economically disadvantaged individuals in land allocation but emphasises that Mr. Muchima’s statement does not align with established principles governing judicious land administration. The 2021 Land Policy outlines avenues for citizens to secure land through direct applications without discrimination, emphasising equity as a fundamental tenet of land administration.
The organisation strongly condemns the statement, asserting that historical marginalisation cannot serve as a justifiable foundation for land allocation decisions. TI-Z has since called on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to adhere rigorously to established procedures for land allocation, ensuring equitable access for all citizens.
Mr. Nyambe has urged the ruling UPND party to resist divisive practices and uphold the principles of impartiality and equal opportunity in allocating this vital resource stressing that what was wrong under the previous regime remains wrong, and there is no justification for perpetuating divisive practices.
Mr. Nyambe has further called on the Lands Minister to retract the statement and publicly commit to supporting a land allocation system that avoids promoting divisive tendencies along partisan lines.
