The Hambukushu Traditional Authority is demanding answers from Member of Parliament Elifas Dingara for allegedly fencing off a large piece of land without its permission in the area of Kambimba in the Mukwe Constituency.

The Fumu of the Hambukushu Traditional Authority, Erwin Munika Mbambo, says the land allocation and fencing procedures are clear and that a consent letter must be obtained permitting such activities.

"We will call Dingara and everyone else involved to come and sit with us as the Traditional Authority so that we can understand why they did what they did without complying with the provisions of the law."

He warned that fencing communal land would not be allowed in his jurisdiction unless assessments showed that such a fence would not affect anyone.

"We provide papers like a memorandum of agreement, which spells out the terms of usage for that land, and a consent letter after a person has furnished us with his business plan and other documentation, copies of which will go to the ministry and the applicant, as well as a copy that must sit here."

Villagers from Shanondho are outraged by Dingara's alleged attempt to establish a farm in their grazing area.

Faustinus Musithu says about 1,000 cattle in the villages will have no grazing if the fence is allowed.

"There are 923 cattle in this village, and if you look this side, there is Korokosha village and their crop fields, which we cannot graze; on the other side, there is Kambimba with their crop fields; in this direction, there are crop fields of Dithimba village; the only area we are grazing is this one, which they are fencing."

Another villager, Immanuel Maira, accused Dingara of deliberately fencing in people's crop fields because he knew they were too poor to stop him from doing so.

"This shows us that he is aware that we are poor; he can do whatever he wants; there is nothing we can do, but for us, it is very painful because this is where we depend for survival; we cannot start jumping fences to reach our crop fields."

Kambimba area Headman Shitango Murauli was not happy with the development, saying it deprived the poor, who depend on subsistence farming for survival.

"We do not allow fences between farms on communal land, but there are exceptions. That's why individuals who want to fence must first come to the traditional authority to assess such land. If it's found that it does not interfere with people's crop fields, pastures, or livelihoods, we can approve it."

Murauli added that Dingara did not seek his approval for such a fence in the eyes of the traditional authority in the area.