Wed, 13 Dec 2017 09:46:33 +0000
By Chite Mtonga
FOREIGNERS have been given land behind Emmasdale police camp in Lusaka under questionable circumstances, while Zambians are being evicted in a move that has angered Zambia Republican Party president Wright Musoma.
The same land was initially offered to Zambians then withdrawn after complaints.
But in a strange twist while all the plots given to Zambians had been cancelled, foreigners have continued to build.
Mr Musoma has questioned the criteria used to discriminate against Zambians. He said the Lusaka City Council has exhibited discrimination and incompetence by their action. Lusaka deputy mayor Chilando Chitangala earlier told the Daily Nation that a full council meeting had approved the plots behind Emmasdale police camp but the council had since cancelled the plots following some concerns. But Mr Musoma said that foreigners had acquired huge tracks of land in the same area and had even erected buildings. “There are some foreigners who I know have land at the same area, so really it is surprising that the council cannot accept to have Zambians owning plots there. Mr Hassan, a man of Somali origin has land there and I know that, but why should ordinary Zambians not own land? We should be fair, we all are entitled to land,” Mr Musoma said.
He said the council should not be selective in allocating land as to only advantage foreigners when Zambians who are the sole owners of the land are not given priority. Mr Musoma told the Daily Nation in an interview that according to the council, the suspected cadres had legally acquired the land but was later cancelled by the council. “We hear about the Chinese and other foreigners building in places which are supposed to be roads and in fact several other concerns, but it is rare that council comes in to cancel the plots but when it involves a Zambian, the council is very quick to take action, these are matters that we will address when we form government, Zambians must in fact be encouraged to own land,” Mr Musoma said.
