Kalumbila DC denies 200 homes collapsing

Fri, 17 Mar 2017 09:33:31 +0000

By JACK MAPAPAYI

REPORTS of about 200 families spending nights in churches in Shilenda ward in Kalumbila district following the collapse of their houses by rains are false, says district commissioner Robinson Kalota.

Mr Kalota denied the reports and said the situation does not exist.

He was commenting on media reports attributed to Shilenda ward councillor Felix Kalungu who reported that 200 families were sheltering in churches following the collapse of their homes in the area.

He said according to a true situation on the ground, only 22 houses collapsed.

“As far as I am concerned there are no such reports of people sleeping in churches. Yes, there are some houses which have collapsed but not that number; we have all the records,” he said.

He said some affected families had already worked on their shelters and resumed normal life.

He said people should desist from rushing to the media to issue alarming statements on issues that did not exist.

He also appealed to residents in the area to start building houses using durable materials to avoid such calamities in future.

“We will not allow a situation where every year we are talking about the same thing of houses collapsing. Let people start using strong materials, he said.