LANDS and Natural Resources Minister Elijah Muchima says he didn’t declare in Parliament that government will de-gazette forests to accommodate the growing population but only explained the de-gazettion process. Muchima argues that it will be “foolish” of him to go against his government’s policy of preserving forests to mitigate the effects of climate change. On Friday, while debating the Motion of Supply for his Ministry, Muchima said there was need to de-gazette some of Zambia’s forests in order to accommodate the increasing population, but depending on the government in office. “De-gazettion is a normal process. But of course, it has qualifying reasons. The population, and also to preserve the forests for the future, you have [to] be a bit mean....