We did not issue plots on Zambia Army Land – Kabwe council

By KETRA KALUNGA
The Kabwe municipal council has distanced itself from the offer letters of land belonging to the Military Training Establishment of Zambia (MILTEZ) which were given to about 80 people whose houses were demolished early this month by the Zambia Army.
The Land in question is located in Kakumbi which is near MILTEZ and opposite Mpima Correctional Facility.
Mayor, Prince Chileshe said during a special council meeting that the council didn’t issue plots in the area belonging to the Zambia Army
Mr. Chileshe stated that 99 percent of people that have been affected bought land from individuals who had documents that are purported to be false documents signed by one of the three former council workers that were recently convicted of corrupt practices.
“So the council distances itself from the offers that the people had, I know they are mourning, they are crying but we sympathize with you, we know the pain that you are going through,” he said.
He mentioned that the said documents given to the affected people are the famous 2010 documents from the minute book which the council decided to cancel in 2017 because it was full of anomalies.
Mr. Chileshe said the council realized that a lot of people were riding on the cancelled minute book to create a situation which the council could not control.
The mayor disclosed the first person to make a payment towards the 2010 demand notices generated by the convicted officials was done in 2012 with the next payment made in 2015 which clearly indicates a serious anomaly.
“I Am also told that the demand notices that were generated by some people, how they were done I don’t know, were indicating a payment period of 30 days but these days ended long ago,” he said.
Mr. Chileshe said much as the council sympathizes with the affected people, it would not allow them to hold a perception that the council offered them land belonging to the Zambia Army.
He said a task force has been set up to interrogate the matter thoroughly because it is a responsible council to help lessen the burden that the affected people are going through.
The affected people are demanding to be compensated and given alternative land because they are the rightful owner according to the documents which they acquired from the council.