Fri, 24 Feb 2017 13:45:20 +0000
By Kalobwe Bwalya
CHIEFTAINESS Nkomesha of the Soli speaking people has expressed shock over the manner title deeds are being given to land developers in her chiefdom without her consent.
She said her people were being constantly displaced in the name of development.
Chieftainess Nkomesha the land in her chiefdom had been encroached and invaded evidenced by the manner title deeds were being given without her knowledge when the land did not belong to the State.
She has since threatened to demolish any structure that would be built without the consent of the traditional authority.
She was speaking when Lusaka Province Minister Japhen Mwakalombe paid her a courtesy call at the palace.
Chieftainess Nkomesha however said the people of Busoli Royal Establishment (BRE) were very grateful that Chongwe town had been raised to municipality status.
She urged government to consider putting up modern infrastructure in the area as well as to finish tarring all township roads, including the rehabilitation of Kanakantapa and Chalimbana universities.
The traditional leader said those who wished to take development to Chongwe should first follow the right procedure on how to acquire traditional land, because BRE would not hesitate to demolish structures done without her consent.
” You have come here to tell us over government’s intension to raise our district to high status, and the people have agreed and there is an assurance from government that my people ‘s lifestyle will not change by displacing them or removing them from their respected villages,” she said
She said the unprecedented development that was taking place in her chiefdom should first benefit the local people because the area was now becoming a Cosmopolitan with a lot of infrastructure development taking place.
She said the law of the land did not allow for any person to be displaced especially during the rainy season like what was happening in Kafue, Shibuyunji and Chilanga districts.
And Mr Mwakalombe said government could not announce or declare the new status of Chongwe without first seeking authority from her.
Mr Mwakalombe said the town had also enjoyed development projects such as the expansion of Kenneth Kaunda International Airport as well as the roads. And council chairperson Geoffrey Chumbwe assured the chieftainess that no one would be displaced or have their land grabbed for the sake of development.
He said the local authority has since been offloaded some portions of land from Galaun farms for development.
