SOLIDARIDAD CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING

SOLIDARIDAD ZAMBIA BUILDS CAPACITY FOR STAKEHOLDERS ON SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT IN LUSAKA

As a follow up to maintaining the momentum generated during Sustainable Landscape Management (SLM) Programme launch held in Mazabuka on 17th February, 2017, SOLIDARIDAD Zambia planned a high level two days orientation/training workshop on sustainable landscape for stakeholders with regard to the Lower Kafue sub Basin from 4th to 5th April, 2017 at Melsim Lodge in Lusaka.
The total participation was about 50 and they were drawn from the Government, Civil Society Organization (CSOs), the private sector and experts from Netherlands and Ethiopia among others.
The objective of the workshop was to build a common understanding of sustainable landscape management, learn more on managing sustainable landscape and develop a collective action plan towards maintaining a sustainable landscape in Mazabuka that enormously contributes to social and economic development among other major key factors.
From Left to Right; Mrs Angela Mulenga, Dr. Christine Kaseba Sata, Mr. Simon Kang'omba, Mr. Vincent Lilanda & Mrs Jenny Chirwa.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Ministry’s Assistant Director Mr. Simon Kang’omba, Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection Minister Mr. Lloyd Kaziya underscored that sustainable landscape management plays a pivotal role in economic and social development through its contribution to employment creation, food security and wealth creation.
Mr. Kaziya was very much aware of the effects of climate change and if land and water resources are not managed prudently there is a high possibility of endangering the future generation.
Mr. Kaziya stated that conservation of Zambia’s environment and natural resources is of critical importance in order to protect the natural heritage. He reemphasized the need for capacity building of all stakeholders to have a common understanding of sustainable landscape management programmes.
He announced that government was and still is ready to dialogue with all stakeholders in coming up with a sustainable water resource, forestry, land management and sustainable agriculture that supports both crop and livestock value chains.
Mr. Kaziya further added that his ministry will pursue policies which do not only support today’s ambitions but also the needs of future generations.

Dr. Christine Kaseba Sata

The Sustainable Landscape Management project matron Dr. Christine Kaseba Sata was also in attendance and observed that land degradation was not just  a problem for government alone but for everyone and that there was need to help Government adding that issues that will impact positively the effects of poverty are addressed with the urgency they deserve.
Dr. Kaseba said Mazabuka has serious land degeneration effects putting lives at risk and this can continue if sustainable landscape management is not applied in the area.
The former first Lady added that pressure on land and water in Mazabuka was seriously increasing and that there was need to realize that the population was also increasing.
She also observed that climate smart interventions are of high priority to maintain a sustainable landscape and will require concerted efforts.
Dr. Kaseba further said that there was need to remember that depletion of land resources is considered to be a sustainable development issue as it has the potential to impact the needs of the future generation hence the various stake holders have a duty to think of solutions to protect the future generation such as the Sustainable Landscape Management being implemented by SOLIDARIDAD.

Mr. Gert Van Der Bijl

Meanwhile, SOLIDARIDAD International Programme Coordinator for Livestock and Leather Mr. Gert Van Der Bijl noted that the strategic focus of Mazabuka district for agricultural development is on increased production, productivity and value addition crops.
Mr. Bijl stated that agricultural produce of small scale and emergent famers consists mainly of common and traditional crops including maize, soya beans, sugar beans, cash crops like sunflower and cotton, tuber crops like cassava and sweet potatoes and other cereals.
He further added that Mazabuka and the lower Kafue Basin will do far much better where livestock is concerned taking into consideration that the area is culturally a livestock dominated hence SOLIDARIDAD’s mandate of developing the livestock value chain will be an added advantage to the development of livestock sector and contribute to increased income of the small scale farmers.

Mrs. Angela Mulenga

And SOLIDARIDAD Country Manager for Zambia Mrs. Angela Mulenga said transforming Mazabuka landscape is highly dependent on all stakeholders hence the need for continued capacity building such as this one.
Mrs. Mulenga emphasized that building capacity will not only improve the sustainable landscape of Mazabuka but also contribute to increased production, attract business investment, attract impact investment in the area and improvement of livelihoods.
The orientation/training saw representation from the Wildlife and Environmental Conservation, Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), CUTS International, Caritas Monze, Water and Land Resources Centre, Magoye Dairy Corporative, Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs to mention but just a few who agreed to support the implementation of the sustainable landscape management programme.
The workshop also highlighted some of the best ways in which sustainable landscape can be properly managed in accordance with the land, water, forestry and environmental policies.
Government pledged to support such good projects and urged the key stakeholders to go and practice what they learnt from the workshop in their respective organizations.


BY SOLIDARIDAD ZAMBIA

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