Over three thousand people have encroached and illegally settled in Lukusuzi National Park in Lundazi district.
Acting Lundazi District Commissioner, Mukule Banda, says a census conducted shows that the majority of those, who have settled in the national park come from chiefdoms within Lundazi district.
He explained that the illegal settlers in Lukusuzi National Park are therefore people, who have villages, but have just decided to settle in the national park.
Mr. Banda explained that this year, an exercise will be conducted to evict illegal settlers in national parks.
He explained that the Ministry of Tourism and Arts in conjunction with the Provincial Joint Operations Committee visited the illegal settlers to educate them on the need to leave the national park.