Fri, 17 Mar 2017 07:17:29 +0000
By Violet Tembo
Our hands are clean and no Patriotic Front (PF) leader or member is involved in land encroachment at Ndola’s Dola Hill, says PF district secretary Benjamin Chitondo.
Mr Chitondo said that after investigations, it was discovered that no party member was involved the alleged invasion of land belonging to Northrise University and China Henan Gaoji.
“Why is Ndola City Council dragging its feet to report PF officials and cadres named in land illegalities in Dola area if they have evidence?” he asked.
Speaking in an interview, Mr. Chitondo however said that the party was not going to protect any member found wanting in the scam.
“I want to put it on record that we as party leadership and cadres we are clean in this matter that has been blown out of proportion by the local authority.
“Our cadres are disciplined and law abiding citizens and I can confirm that no one is involved in demarcation of pieces of land in Dola Hill.
“It is shocking to us in the manner it has been reported by the council that PF officials are involved when it is the party task force that reported a man named Greenwell who is selling pieces of land using the name of the party,” said Mr Chitondo.
He challenged the council to report the matter to the police so that culprits could be dealt with.
Meanwhile, Mr Chitondo has warned party members holding private meetings in the district to stop or face of disciplinary action.
He said the district leadership was alive to several dark corner meetings in which party leaders from other districts engaged youths in Ndola.
He said that the party was still investigating the matter and on completion of its findings, information will be brought out in the public domain.
“I cannot for now disclose names but it’s some security leadership from other districts that have been engaging party youths in Ndola without our knowledge,” he said.
And district party youth chairperson Tony Mwape accused leaders holding clandestine meetings with youths of having plans to destabilize the party.
Mr Mwape advised youths to shun such meetings which had no blessing of the party leadership.
“Our view is that they might be working with the opposition to bring instability. We shall not spare them. Let them follow procedure,” he warned.
