Lands Minister says land audit will enable Zambians acquire title and empower them

March 27, 2014 - Minster of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Hon. Mwansa Kapeya says land audit by government will enable Zambians acquire title deeds and further enable them access loans.

Mr. Kapeya says government is working with traditional rulers to ensure Zambians access land with title so they develop it.

The Minister of Lands was speaking in Washington DC, when he paid a courtesy call on Zambia's ambassador to the United States Palan Mulonda.

Mr. Kapeya is in the US capital to attend the World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty that has brought together government representatives, civil society and academia to discuss issues of concern to communities, land practioners and policymakers worldwide.

This year's conference theme is "Integrating Land Governance in the Post 2015 Agenda: Harnessing Synergies for Implementation and Monitoring Impact".

The minister observed that ninety per cent of the land was in the hands of traditional rulers adding that they needed to be educated on the importance of issuing title deeds as this would attract investment and bring development.

Mr. Kapeya observed that attending the conference will help government provide best practices in regard to land ownership and poverty alleviation.

In attendance was the Acting Lands commissioner Mabuchi Chilembo and National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) Director General Charles Mpundu.

In welcoming the Minister and his delegations to the Zambian Embassy in Washington DC, His Excellency Ambassador Mulonda noted that the Mission was keen to learn about the Land audit process that Zambia is embarking on. The land audit is expected to address the issues of plots, the land in use and the amount available for residential and commercial purposes. This is also meant to enable Zambians have easy access to land.

Ambassador Mulonda noted that the Mission was in the process of attracting investments in Zambia and documentation of land was cardinal in this process.