By NOEL IYOMBWA
CHISAMBA Town Council has warned of stern action against people engaging in illegal selling of land in the district.
Chisamba town council public relations officer Nakubiana Shabongo said there is a growing trend of illegal land allocation in the district.
Ms Shabongo noted that the vice is resulting into serious encroachment and prohibiting development
“Projects earmarked for development have been affected. We have received reports that some named individuals are in the forefront of this illegality and we have identified some people linked to this matter which we will deal with. All those collecting money from the public on pretext that they have land offers should stop or face prosecution,” she warned.
Ms Shabongo warned members of public to refrain from buying land from people masquerading as custodians of land in the district.
She said any person buying land from unscrupulous people risk throwing their money into ventures where it would never be recovered.
Ms Shabongo stated that the law prohibits illegal allocation of land and that the local authority will ensure it protects people from being swindled through land illegalities.
She urged would be buyers to follow procedure in the acquisition of land as all legal allocations are done at the ministry of land and local government.
Ms Shabongo has since appealed to members of public to report matters surrounding illegal land allocation.
She added that council alone could not manage to fight the vice but with the help of the community.
Meanwhile a resident of ten miles has called on government to regulate real estate companies in Chibombo district and surrounding areas.
Enock Mwanja said the mushrooming real estate’s companies has led to the illegal selling of land.
Mr Mwanja disclosed that many people are being swindled by real estate agents.
“These people will not tell you that they don’t have land as a result they sell one piece of land to more than two or three people. “Sometimes they will tell you the land is just few kilometers from the road but in the actual sense it far.
“Government should do something before more people are swindled,” he said.
