THE Lusaka City Council cannot claim ignorance over the developments in the controversial Forest 27 which have been in the public domain in recent years.
It can therefore not just all of a sudden become super active and issue demolition notices to the so-called illegal developers.
What has changed now?
It is for this reason that Government’s decision to stop plans by the Lusaka City Council to demolish all structures in Forest 27 to allow for a fact finding report to be released is the most logical step to take for now.
Uncertainty has gripped most former ministers, who include Michael Katambo, Chitalu Chilufya, Davies Chama, Sydney Mushanga and Edify Hamukale, who reportedly built on the land reserve after the council indicated that it would carry out demolitions.
But there are more questions than answers that need to be met for the planned demolitions to win public support.
We therefore support the order given by the Minister of Lands, Mr Elijah Muchima not to go ahead with the planned demolitions for now.
“We are not going to demolish any structure before the report is released.”
Mr Muchima said that they were waiting for the report to help Government decide what course of action to take on people who had built in the forest reserve.
If the council was aware that illegal developments were taking place in the area, why did they not stop the illegalities than to allow people to develop their plots and build houses at great expense?
If the mistake made by the developers was not to have the building plans approved by the council, then the demolition route is an extreme measure.
Even if this was true, then half the building developments in Lusaka – residential and commercial – would have to be demolished for the council cannot claim that it has been pro-active in this area.
If anything, there is a provision which provides for a developer who adds a structure to an existing building to have an option of regularising the added structure by submitting plans and pay an added penalty.
But again, if the council is disputing the authenticity of the title deeds which are issued by the Ministry of Lands, we feel it is beyond its jurisdiction.
While we do not condone illegalities, it is important that any action taken over developments in Forest 27 are above board.
As we have pointed out, controversy over Forest 27 is not new which is why the public is questioning the council’s inertia over these years.
There are many structures springing up in Lusaka and other parts of the country which should be stopped immediately there are signs of construction starting. But this is hardly done.
This is the more reason why the Lusaka City Council should be taken to task and show cause whether it was acting professionally or merely politicking as has been observed in other government agencies since the August 12 general elections.
