Ministry of Green Economy hands over vehicles to Eastern Province
ENVIRONMENTBy Lusaka Times — Lusaka Times
The Ministry of Green Economy and Environment has officially handed over a fleet of five motor vehicles valued at K6.1 million to the Eastern Province Jurisdictional Sustainable Landscape Programme (EP-JSLP). The handover ceremony, held in Lusaka, marks a crucial logistical upgrade aimed at enhancing field operations, monitoring environmental initiatives, and driving sustainable development across rural communities in the province. Ministry Permanent Secretary Douty Chibamba disclosed that the acquisition of the vehicles was facilitated through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Dr. Chibamba emphasized that the initiative directly aligns with national climate goals, specifically targeting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through the promotion of sustainable agriculture, community forestry, and improved land-use practices. Project Coordinator Noel Muchimba noted that the new logistical support will empower field officers to effectively execute monitoring and evaluation tasks. This infrastructure is vital for tracking carbon emission reductions and ensuring that financial resources generated from environmental markets are successfully channeled into community-level livelihood enhancement. The EP-JSLP serves as a continuation of broader national efforts following the conclusion of the Zambia Integrated Forest Landscape Project (ZIFLP). World Bank Group Agriculture Economist Michael Kabwe commended the Zambian government for the steady implementation pace observed under the program. The World Bank remains a key stakeholder in backing structural frameworks that merge environmental conservation with economic resilience in rural Zambia. Furthermore, representatives from the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) underscored that robust transport logistics are indispensable for safeguarding protected areas and enforcing environmental laws at the grassroots level. As Zambia deepens its commitment to results-based climate finance and c