Sakwiba Sikota, Livingstone M.P.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Parley must revisit heritage sites laws, says Sikota
By Times Reporter

LIVINGSTONE Member of Parliament (MP), Sakwiba Sikota, has pledged to ensure that Parliament revisits legislation dealing with heritage sites in Zambia.
Mr Sikota, who is United Liberal Party (ULP) president said in an interview at the weekend that more needed to be done to streamline measures aimed at protecting heritage sites in the country.
“The current laws dealing with heritage sites have many loopholes such that people can temper with the heritage sites at the expense of the rest of the country,” Mr Sikota said.
He observed that there was need to have laws in place that protected heritage sites from projects such as the controversial construction of the Legacy Hotels.
Mr Sikota said he was determined to use all necessary legal means to block the project.
He said if allowed by the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) the construction of the hotel would affect the status of the mighty Victoria Falls as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
“As area MP and councillor, I am aware that the Livinsgtone city council is considering giving Legacy Hotel alternative land if the request is made,” he said.
“These people usually promise to create employment but what usually happens is that they recruit people as casual workers.
“They even talk of the spill over effects to the business community but what is happening is that almost all of the contracts to supply goods and services including the maintenance is done by foreign companies and not local ones,” Mr Sikota observed.
The construction of an ultra-modern hotel and golf course by the Legacy Hotels has sparked controversy among local people and environmentalist groups in Zambia and Zimbabwe seeking to protect the falls and wild life in the game park in the area.