Thu, 29 Jun 2017 13:24:23 +0000
exposed …Halt all illegal structures until you clean up your mess
By KALOBWE BWALYA
TEMPERS flared as unconvincing explanation by the Lusaka City Council (LCC) on structures under construction by various developers across the city were rubbished by councillors during a heated third ordinary council meeting held at the council chambers on Tuesday night.
Councillors reacted with consternation when they were informed that Stanley bar was now in private hands while East Park mall, Arcades shopping mall, Woodlands stadium and Olympic Swimming Pool, among others were built and some of them expanded without the approval of the council.
This came a few days after the halting of the construction of two shopping malls in Kalundu and Olympia Park by the National Council for Construction (NCC) where the Chinese were controversially given a go ahead by LCC council without following laid down procedure.
The councillors were at pains to understand how council properties such as Stanley Bar ended up in private hands without proper trace of how the change of ownership was approved, while contractors working on Woodlands stadium, Olympic Swimming Pool and others were not approved by the council yet they were council properties.
The councillors have demanded that structures in question which were still under construction or expansion without the consent of councillors be suspended until they are scrutinized.
Mpulungu Ward 23 councilor Christopher Shakafuswa, who is one of the longest-serving councilors, said it was sad to hear that council buildings were exclusively being given to private developers.
“Stanley bar is a council property but we are aware that some dubious people from the council changed the title deeds without the approval of the councilors. So, you the council, should find out from the commissioner of lands how the council property changed hands without their approval.
“We are a planning authority and whoever is planning to build in Lusaka is supposed to get permission from us. However, we now have a situation where these private developers have been carrying out works without their plans being approved by the local authority and that has been our problem as councilors,” Mr Shakafuswa fumed.
And Lubwa ward councilor Humphrey Kapapula also wondered how the council allowed a developer who had applied for the land opposite Belvedere lodge in Kabulonga area was almost allowed to start building despite an uproar from the residents.
The councillors unanimously agreed that works on the same piece of land be deferred.
Meanwhile, former Mandevu Member of parliament Patricia Nawa, who is an Alderman in the council, cautioned the councilors against giving away play parks and other open spaces because they were reserved for reactional purposes.
Ms. Nawa said during the rainy season, Lusaka was experiencing floods because most open spaces left for recreational purposes had been given away to developers by the council.
