• Government should settle pending land issues before fully digitalizing land acquisition and management system.
• There are a lot of issues under Ministry of Lands which needs to be addressed.
• Government must sensitize and educate rural communities on land management and procurement procedures.

Small Scale Farmers Development Agency (SAFADA) has called on government to review and revise the land policy before fully digitalizing land acquisition and management system in the country.
Organization Executive Director Boyd Moobwe told Money FM News that in as much as government is keen to digitalize all its Ministerial services, it is important to ensure that pending land issues are adequately addressed.
Mr. Moobwe noted that there are a lot of issues under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources that need to be addressed before the electronic system is fully implemented.
He said the digital migration is an important move as it will help in decongesting the Ministry of Lands because of the COVID-19 Pandemic and will also reduce irregularities in land procurement and management system.
“As much as government is keen to digitalize all its ministerial services, it is important that the government addresses pending land issues such as Chilipilepile local forest in Chief Chamuka of Chisamba district in Central Province and other affected areas in the country. There are a lot of issues under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources which need to be addressed before the electronic system is fully implemented.”
“However, the rural small scale farmers will be more vulnerable and at risk of losing their land. The Ministry of Lands will face higher levels of corruption under the electronic system and may cause confusion and land disputes if government will not technically and professionally put up necessary measures to protect the poor farmers,” Mr. Moobwe said.
And Mr. Moobwe urged government to create awareness among rural communities on the newly introduced land management and procurement procedures to avoid land disputes.
He stressed the need for government to put up measure aimed at protecting the rural communities from losing their land through illegal land owners and ghost land tenants manipulating the system to an extent of disadvantaging those who may find it difficult to protect their land electronically.
“It is imperative that government sensitizes and educates the rural communities on such important land management and procurement procedures to avoid land disputes. Otherwise it’s a good way to go but requires better modalities and mechanisms put in place to protect the poor,” he stated.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources recently introduced an electronic payment system for some of the services offered at its offices and centers.
Lands Minister Jean Kapata disclosed that the payment system which was launched in partnership with the Smart Zambia Institute and the Ministry of Finance is part of the transformation agenda aimed at improving service delivery through digital technology.