THE Forestry Department in Chipangali District has rejected the proposed site for the construction of a community school as 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.
ZANIS reports that Mr Popo was speaking during a meeting with the District Commissioner and other Heads of Department.
He said a school cannot be built in a forest reserve as it would allow settlement and diminish the forest completely.
“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.
He further explained that the mine that wants to build a community school will not be in the forest forever but will leave the site once mining activities are done thereby allowing the forest to regenerate.
“Looking at the urgency of the matter, the Provincial Administration said they will handle it and will be updating us on the developments,” Mr Popo said.
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.