ZAMBEZI Town Council Secretary Dulani Phiri says the district is one of the areas that has experienced the negative effects of climate change.

Mr Phiri stated that in the past, Zambezi District in Northwestern Province experienced exploitation of timber cutting which in turn caused reduced rainfall in the area.

ZANIS reports that the Council Secretary explained that the excessive cutting down of trees in any area has a negative impact on the environment. 

“In the past, there was excessive cutting down of trees in this district and as you are aware, when you cut down a lot of trees in an area the environment gets affected negatively,” said Mr Phiri.

Mr Phiri was speaking in Zambezi district today when a team of officers from the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment called on him at his office.

And Zambezi District Administrative Officer, Sombo Chiteta stated that forests being ripped off trees are in chiefdoms adding that the traditional leaders are the custodians of the land.

Meanwhile, Mrs Chiteta has bemoaned the reduction of water levels in the river and the streams in the area. 

Mrs Chiteta said the water level in the Zambezi River in the district has reduced due to insufficient rains recorded last year.

“Our Zambezi River and the streams have dried up to an extent where our children just walk to the other side of the river when they are bathing,” she said.

Speaking earlier, Zambezi District Forestry Technologist, Chikomba Sweta, disclosed that the department has put in place measures to deter the public from cutting down trees. 

Ms Sweta disclosed that not all timber dealers have conventional licenses that allow them to trade.

She said her department is targeting to plant more than 10,000 trees in Zambezi district next year.

“Our target is to plant more than 10,000 trees next year so that we compensate for the trees that were cut down in the district,” she said.

The Ministry Green Economy and Environment is implementing the Nature People and Climate program which aims to tackle in an integrated manner the multiple drivers and impacts of climate change resulting from human activities on land resources and echo systems.

The Nature People and Climate Programme is being implemented in Northwestern, Copperbelt and Central Provinces respectively.