Wed, 09 Aug 2017 10:03:11 +0000
By Bennie Mundando and Aaron Chiyanzo
GOVERNMENT has formed a team to look into the numerous allegations of illegal structures in Emmasdale and other parts of Lusaka.
According to impeccable sources, the team would comprise Lusaka Province Minister Japhen Mwakalombe, the Mayor and Town Clerk of Lusaka, the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Defence and officials from the Ministry of Lands.
The source said that the team would be required to go on site and scrutinise all the documents for them to determine the circumstances under which the plots in question were offered and determine whether building permits were properly obtained or given.
The source disclosed that the investigations would be coordinated by the Minister of Lands, Ms Jean Kapata.
The development follows numerous allegations of illegal structures coming up in the city without owners following legally provided channels.
And business houses in Emmasdale have challenged Ministry of Defence officials to explain why they have remained mute over the Mimosa Road land scandal, pointing out that the Permanent Secretary, Sturdy Mwale, was key to ending the rot that had affected their investments.
Proprietors have questioned Mr. Mwale’s U-turn after ordering for the demolition and cancellation of certificate of title to plot No. S/LUSAK/1206740 which was created right on the gazetted road and given to Mehmud Suleman Mohamed.
One of the businessmen running Cornerstone Veterinary Clinic, Dr Caesar Luswili, told the Daily Nation yesterday that Mr. Mwale owed them an explanation as to why he was engulfed in all sorts of inconsistencies over the issue when he knew that the plot was illegal.
Dr. Luswili challenged Mr. Mwale to be magnanimous enough by facilitating the reversal and cancellation of the plot just like he had earlier instructed so that the structure could be razed down instead of inconveniencing business houses and the army school of medicine.
“In May 2016 when he was Lusaka Province PS, Mr. Mwale wrote to the Town Clerk to request for the cancellation of the plot after he assessed the facts brought to his attention.
In September 2016, he made a surprise U-turn and wrote to the Ministry of Defence to state that the plot was created and acquired legally and as such the developer should be allowed to continue to develop the plot without hindrance.
He said as a result of the illegal structure which had made access to his business difficult, his enterprise had suffered losses.
“My service to the various communities has assisted in keeping the outbreak of rabies under control and contributed to the well-being of domestic animals in the area.
I am very disappointed with the sluggish response by the Ministry of Lands, the Lusaka City Council, and the ACC on the ongoing saga of the creation of this irregular plot. The structure has blocked access to my clinic and I have to negotiate entry and exit,” he said.
And another businessman who declined to be named said the affected parties will have no option but to put their resources together to institute legal proceedings against Mr. Mohamed because Government had failed to come to their aid.
“Does Government think we are dull that we can be talking about something we do not understand? Why this silence from all ministries involved? What are they scared of? We want to make it clear to the council, the ministries involved and to Mr. Mwale himself that we will not rest until this structure is brought down.
“If the courts of law will also ignore our issue, then we are ready to be arrested because we will take the law in our own hands if that is what it takes for authorities to understand our grievances. Isn’t this insanity? Where is this country going?” the source asked.
In a letter dated May 19, 2016 and addressed to the Town Clerk, Mr. Mwale directed the council to cancel the issuance of certificate of title to Mr. Mohamed.
However, on September 23, 2016, Mr. Mwale wrote to the Ministry of Defence claiming that investigations into the illegal creation and allocation of the plot to Mr. Mohamed showed that he “followed laid down procedure,” hence needed to continue with construction.
