The Forestry Department in Chipangali District has rejected the proposed site for the construction of a community, saying that it is in the degazetted forest reserve.
Chipangali District Forestry Officer Rian Popo says allowing the construction of the community school on the proposed site would entail destruction of the Chankadze local forest.
Mr Popo said a school cannot be built in a forest reserve as it would allow settlement and diminish the forest completely.
Recently, community members of Chipangali ward proposed to construct a community school in the Chankadze Forest where a community school can be built by Kuma Investments Limited as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Kuma Investments Limited Site Manager, Chipasha Mandona, disclosed recently to ZANIS that community members in Chipangali ward were asked to choose a site where a community school can be built but noted that the site selected was in the forest reserve, hence will require approval by the Forestry Department.
But speaking during a meeting with the District Commissioner and other Heads of Department, Mr Popo said the school could not be built at the selected site because it is a forest reserve.
“According to the Forest Act that school cannot be built in a forest reserve” Mr Popo noted.
He mentioned that advice has been given to the community members to choose another location.
“We have been going there advising them. They are saying that since the mine is in a forest reserve the school should also be in a forest reserve. Even the President said that these forest reserves need to be protected looking at the challenges we are facing. Once we allow a school in a forest reserve it will mean that all those who want to build schools in forest reserves will do so” he said.
Mr Popo added that once it was allowed for the school to be built in the forest reserve, it would attract settlement and other activities that will contribute to destroying the forest.
He further explained that the mine will not be in the forest forever but will leave the site once mining activities are done thereby allowing the forest to regenerate.
Mr Popo disclosed that the matter was now being handled by the Provincial Administration.
“Looking at the agency of the matter, the Provincial Administration said they will handle it and will be updating us on the developments” Mr Popo said.
