Transparency International Zambia expresses deep concern regarding the recent statement attributed to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Elijah Muchima, as reported in the NewsDiggers edition of Wednesday 20th December 2023.
In the statement, Hon. Muchima pledges preferential treatment for poor members of the United Party for National Development (UPND) during land allocation, citing their alleged marginalization under the previous Patriotic Front (PF) regime.
As an organization which has been working around land corruption in Zambia since 2015, we acknowledge the pertinent issue of marginalization affecting economically disadvantaged individuals in the allocation of land. However, it is vital to highlight that the Minister’s articulated statement fails to align with established principles governing judicious land administration.
The 2021 Land Policy outlines avenues for citizens to secure land through direct applications to the Commissioner of Lands or local authorities, while customary land acquisition involves engagement with traditional authorities. An overarching tenet of land administration, expounded by the policy, is equity, ensuring that individuals of all backgrounds have equal opportunities to access land.
It is crucial to emphasize that historical marginalization under a previous administration cannot serve as a justifiable foundation for land allocation decisions.
This divisive precedent of allocating land based on partisan affiliations represents a concerning deviation from sound land administration principles.
Government’s commitment should therefore be directed towards facilitating land acquisition without discrimination, fostering an environment conducive to dignified livelihoods and socio-economic development for all citizens.
TI-Z strongly condemns the aforementioned statement, and we urge the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to adhere rigorously to established procedures for land allocation that ensure equitable access for all citizens. As a ruling party, the UPND should resist the normalization of divisive practices and uphold the principles of impartiality and equal opportunity in the allocation of this vital resource.
We wish to remind the UPND administration that what was wrong under the previous regime is still wrong now, and there is no justification for continuing whatever anomalies were taking place, since two wrongs do not make a right.
We therefore call on Hon Muchima to retract the statement and publicly commit to supporting a land allocation system that will not promote divisive tendencies along partisan lines.
Maurice K. Nyambe (Mr.) Executive Director
