Mon, 19 Feb 2018 10:40:41 +0000
By SIMON MUNTEMBA
A WHISTLEBLOWER has exposed a scam linked to Kazungula district council in which over 500 marketeers, whose licensed structures were demolished, have been swindled out of K200 each.
According to one of the victims who sought anonymity, the local authority, through the market chairperson, asked over 500 marketeers in Kazungula district to pay K200 non-refundable fee each to be reallocated their usual trading spaces where the structures were demolished but later gave the trading spaces to other people.
A source narrated that council officials, in collaboration with some unscrupulous people from the market, took advantage of the demolition exercise to siphon money from unsuspecting marketeers.
The source accused the officials of having deliberately demolished the licensed structures with the aim of de-campaigning the PF government.
“They demolished our stands in the market which were licensed by the council and later asked us to pay K200 non-refundable fee each so that we can be given back our space. But when we paid, we were surprised that our spaces were given to some people who were not trading in the market with us.
“When we complained to the bosses at the Kazungula district council, the answer they gave us is that it’s the government we voted for which is behind all this sad development,” the source said.
And Mwandiya ward councilor Milner Simbangu who also confirmed having received numerous complaints from duped marketeers, said the town clerk did not engage him as area councilor when the council demolished stands. Mr Simbangu told the Daily Nation in an interview yesterday that there was no council meeting that resolved to demolish the stands and later ask marketeers to pay K200 non-refundable fee each.
He said for such a decision to be made, there must be a full council meeting which, as area policy maker, he is supposed to attend.
