The project will create over 50 jobs

About K700 000 has been set aside by Induna Investment Limited to harvest and process hardwood timber in Kabompo.
The company has since applied for a large-scale forestry concession licence to harvest Rosewood, Mupapa, Mukwa and Swartzia madagasscariensis. According to the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report submitted to the Zambia Environmental Management Agency by Induna Investment and obtained by Daily Mail, the proposed logging and sawmilling activities will be done in Nkulwashi, Watopa, Lihemeno and Mutoma open forestry areas covering 7 000 hectares.

Under the project, the company will introduce advanced timber production methods and the skills will be transferred to the locals as well as create over 50 jobs. “Induna Investment Limited proposes to harvest and process hardwood timber in Chief Sikufele’s area in Kabompo,” the report reads.

The objectives of the project are to exploit the vast forestry species as rich resources in the area for timber processing and to produce sawn wood for local and international markets.

The EIA report says the implementation of the project will not result in any displacement of the locals because production will take place on customary land and the investor is not expected to possess any land as the contract is limited to harvesting and processing only selected tree species.

“The proposed project is in line with the national policy of crop diversification and mitigate alternative from copper dependence to forestry, tourism and agriculture. The project is in response to the high demand for local and international sawn timber required to boost the national economy and earn foreign exchange,” the EIA reads.

Source: Zambia Daily Mail (Edited)