Pursuing land grabbers

Tue, 20 Jun 2017 12:02:39 +0000

SOMEONE must show leadership and stop the nonsense going on in Ndola where land is being shared, sold and bought like salaula. What is so special about those money-hungry illegal land dealers damaging the reputation of the ruling party and Government?

Where on earth can government allow the impunity such as the one in Ndola where party officials, councillors and senior Government officials are quarrelling and fighting openly among themselves over State land which they are supposed to protect by virtue of their positions?

Despite the Ministry of Lands cracking down on the illegalities by withdrawing the land agency of the Ndola City Council, the unlawful and corrupt acquisition of land in Ndola now seems to be deepening and widening; sucking in some big fish whose activities are nothing but an abuse of power and reckless disregard for authority.

As we speak three senior Ndola district PF officials have been suspended, accused of having organised last week’s disgraceful scenes outside the Ndola Civic Centre where party cadres and officials exchanged blows in broad day light following an abortive demonstration against Copperbelt minister Bowman Lusambo.

Now the suspended party officials have spilled the bins, accusing the provincial party leadership of sweeping the cause of the protest – land – under the carpet to protect some senior people spearheading land grabbing in the district. Listening to their allegations, the mess over land in Ndola stinks to high heaven.

We do not need to repeat the allegations here but the happenings in Ndola are shocking. Some people have formed cartels and, using their positions, are selling land like hot cakes. They now even have the audacity to force the weak and politically powerless to agree to sell their land to their friends – while they pick up hefty commissions.

Some highly placed officials have allegedly been offered carrots worthy thousands of Kwacha only if they can abuse their offices to grab land from the weak and defenceless and give it to the rich and powerful. What a country we live in! If this is not corruption and abuse of power, what is it?

We know the culprits and those who are supposed to discipline them will hide under the excuse that there is no proof. That they have not been caught red-handed.Or that nobody has complained or reported officially. The answer is simple: the suspended party officials have challenged the authorities to interview them about the cause of the fracas at the minister’s office last week. They say they know everything.

Is it possible that adults, and party leaders for that matter, can indulge in a fist-fight at the civic centre over nothing? There is a serious problem in Ndola which both the ruling party and Government need to investigate, find the truth and take action.

That brawl tarnished the image of the party; it cannot stop at suspensions. Those suspended are still aggrieved and want to give their side of the story. That is what they call justice. Only then will the party leadership know the truth and take correct measures to curtail the scandals over land ownership in Ndola.

As one suspended party official put it to us, ‘‘A whistle blower today is not protected but persecuted.’’ He claims they would have reported the perpetrators of land scams in Ndola to law enforcement agencies but they fear victimisation. Apparently the culprits wield power, have money and political clout.

Having had their land agency suspended, the Ndola City Council is in a quandary. This is how Mayor Amon Chisenga puts it: ‘‘I am tired of this issue (of land grabbing) and have been made to watch from the terraces. I am overwhelmed with what has occurred in the period I took office; give me more time to digest it. I will give you (the Daily Nation) the detailed account of what is happening as soon as the dust settles.’’

With such a categorical response from the Mayor of Ndola, His Worship Amon Chisenga, who can accuse the Daily Nation of being a rubble-rouser? We certainly pursue justice and equity with integrity.