UPND COUNCILLOR DENIES LAND SCANDAL
By ROGERS KALERO
UPND Parklands ward councillor Felix Malasha and some Nkana constituency officials have been implicated in the illegal allocation of land between Mindolo Secondary School and Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation (MEF).
But, Mr Malasha has denied being involved in the illegal allocation of land, saying it was a fake story being fabricated by his enemies. He could not explain who his enemies were.
Mr Malasha, however said he was aware that the whole scheme was aimed at denting his image by people who were not happy that he was the Deputy Mayor.
“No, that is not true that I’m subdividing land between Mindolo Secondary School and MEF. Even the constituency officials they are mentioning are innocent. That is a fake story which is being fabricated by my enemies,” Mr Malasha said.
Investigations by the Daily Nation revealed that some UPND officials and councillors were behind the story because they were not happy that he decided to contest the position of Deputy Mayor when the party wanted Riverside ward councillor Alex Mwango.
The UPND officials and councillors said those who were not happy with Mr Malasha’s decision to stand as Deputy Mayor were the ones implicating him in the illegal land deals.
The councillors said from the time Mr Malasha was elected Deputy Mayor, his relationship with some UPND district officials and councillors has not been good with some calling for stern disciplinary action against him.
“The issue of our Deputy Mayor, Mr Malasha being implicated in the illegal land deals is a UPND affair and we cannot accuse anyone else. Problems started during the election of the Deputy Mayor when he decided to contest the position when the party wanted Riverside ward councillor Alex Mwango.
“So from that time, some UPND officials and councillors have been calling for his blood. This is why they are even implicating him in the illegal land deals. Yes, he may have an interest in the same land, but he has not done any illegal land deals that side,” said some UPND officials.
Mr Malasha, some UPND Nkana constituency officials and council employees have been implicated in subdividing of land between Mindolo Secondary School and MEF.
With increased population, the land was supposed to carter for the expansion of Mindolo Secondary School hence it was important that all those planning to encroach on it were stopped.
In the recent past, a number of schools in Kitwe have been encroached on thereby creating land disputes and in some situations leading to demolition of illegal structures.
