By KALOBWE BWALYA
THERE is no property agreement in Lusaka earmarked for reversal or cancellation, Lusaka mayor, Miles Sampa has clarified. Recently, Government directed all local authorities to stop selling or leasing their properties and revoked all sale and lease agreements of council properties.
But Mr Sampa explained that Lusaka City Council had not sold any property but that some properties were still on lease such as Lusaka Barcelona Academy sports pitch and Kuku football among others. He said therefore that there was no property whose agreement has been reversed, as those on lease were done way back.
In an interview with Daily Nation, Mr Sampa said there was no record of any council property that has been sold, but just put on lease. Mr Sampa however explained that the leased properties were also helping the council to generate revenue to pay workers and to pay for collection of garbage in the city. The mayor said despite the directive from the Central Government that all local authorities across country should not sale or put any property on lease, LCC has no record of having sold any property, but just on lease.
Mr Sampa disclosed that Lusaka Barcelona Academy sports grounds, Kuku sports pitch among other properties were on lease and were functioning well. He explained that the council has also continued collecting revenue from other businesses like licenses, dog licensing and land licensing. “Look at Kuku grounds that facility is on lease and in a case where the person in charge of the property does not adhere to the terms of contract, it can be reposed and had we not leased out they would have been no development in Kuku. Olympic swimming pool is also on lease, therefore it’s perfectly normal,” he said
