By CHARLES MUSONDA
THE Human Rights Amnesty (HRA) has asked the ministry of Lands Natural Resources and Environmental Protection to partner with it in fighting corruption at the ministry.
HRA executive director Frederick Chinsala says his organisation has overwhelming evidence indicating that most corrupt practices at the ministry are facilitated by officers within the ministry.
This is contained in Mr. Chinsala’s letter to Lands minister Elijah Muchima requesting for a meeting aimed at strategizing on how to fight corruption at the ministry.
He said the evidence HRA has is according to cases that have been reported to its offices some of which are pending investigations before the Zambia Police and some before courts of law.
Mr. Chinsala said the HRA reported the matter relating to property number LUS/11868 to the Anti-Fraud Department at Lusaka Central police to institute an inquiry on grounds that some people purported to have certificates of titles of the 16 sub-divisions while others have contested the case currently in court but have not exhibited any evidence of ownership, contrary to information from the Surveyor General that the land in dispute has never been subdivided.
He said the other case relates properties Lot/10555 and Lot/10556 situated in the light industrial area in Lusaka and owned by Mr. Ramskrishnar Naidu since February 1, 1984 but were taken over from him through political corruption against the dictates of the law regarding ownership of land in Zambia.
“Against this background, the HRA is hereby proposing a meeting with your able ministry on partnership in the fight against corruption on the agenda set out hereunder.
“The meeting once granted will provide an opportunity for the ministry and the HRA to share views, ideas and challenged to overcome the vice under the departments of the ministry,” Mr. Chinsala said.
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