BY ADRIAN MWANZA
I DID not abrogate any laws when acquiring my plot in the degazzetted Forest 27 land reserve, says former Local Government minister Dr Charles Banda.
Dr Banda said that he followed the right procedure and that he applied at the Ministry of Lands just like any ordinary Zambian would.
He denied using his position to acquire the plot and challenged anyone that doubted him to check the records.
“I’m a law abiding citizen and I did not commit any crime when acquiring my tract of land since the right channels were followed,’’ he said.
He wondered why people thought he got the land dubiously when he had followed the right procedure and did not get it from any individual.
Dr Banda challenged all those that thought he got it illegally to prove the illegality rather than to speculate.
‘’What is illegal about applying for land at the Ministry of Lands? Where do you go in this instance? Are you telling me I’m not eligible to own land?,’’ he asked.
Lands minister, Elijah Muchima has indicated that the proposed demolition squad would have to wait for a fact finding report in order to know who acquired the land illegally.
The Lusaka City Council last week issued demolition notices, alleging some structures in Forest 27 were illegally put up and would therefore be demolished.
But Dr Banda said he was not shaken by the pronouncements by the minister and the local authority who indicated that they would demolish all structures in the land reserve.
