BY SIMON MUNTEMABA
IT is illegal to construct any building without the approval of relevant local authorities, the Zambia Institute of Architects (ZIA), has warned.
ZIA president Bwalya Masabo has warned that all structures without the local authority’s approval were illegal and therefore the relevant law could be applied against the owner.
He told the Daily Nation in an interview, that it was required by law that every land developer must approach the local authority for stage certification and to certify their building safe, complete and habitable, stressing that anything short of that was illegal and unacceptable.
Mr Masabo advised would-be developers to get permission from the local authority failure to which they risked their buildings being demolished.
He reiterated that obtaining planning permit from the local authority was a necessary pre-condition for commencing building construction in Zambia.
“It is illegal to embark on construction without the local authority’s approval. For example, in Lusaka, you need to go to the Directorate of Planning at Lusaka City Council to get permission,” Mr Masabo said.
Mr Masabo also urged all land developers to engage registered and qualified professional architects in the construction of buildings at design and inspection stages to ensure their buildings were professionally done.
His comment follows LCC’s Director of Planning issuance of enforcement notices to some land developers in Forest 27 area for allegedly building without approval from the local authority.
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