By NATION REPORTER
CAVEAT that was placed by Government on the retirement house of late president Levy Mwanawasa was secretly removed, resulting into many questions being asked but without answers, it has been discovered.
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A search at the Lands Registry, the
previous government had placed a caveat by the Chief Registrar when it was
discovered that title of the house was about to change to money lenders who had
lent money to former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa.
The caveat however was secretly removed
on 10th February, 2023 by the Registrar who placed a note that the decision was
made after receiving letter from the money lender Ousman Mustapha.
On February 7th, 2023, a caveat on
the Levy Mwanawasa retirement house was secretly withdrawn and was to be sold
to University of Lusaka Limited at a consideration amount of US$2.1 million and
a certificate of Title No CT_144302
was obtained.
The land was given to Maureen
Mwanawasa in 2012 but in trust of the named children of the late President
Mwanawasa including Chipokota Mayamba, who works at State House, Matolo Levy
Mwanawasa, Ntembe Tylanda and Lubona Perise Chikulupanama.
Maureen Mwanawasa was the second
party and was holding on behalf and also in trust of Chipokota Mayamba, Levy
Matolo, Ntembe Tylanda and Lubona Chikulupanama.
But on July 6th, 2018, the children
signed a consent letter to sale the Retirement House
But close scrutiny of the registry shows that
the named children including Chipo wrote letters giving their mother permission
to transact on the property.
It is not clear how the land which
was a trust could be sold without the knowledge of other beneficiaries of the
estate.
“This is was very irregular and
suspicious. You cannot lift such a caveat without talking to the
Attorney-General or getting court order,” a Ministry of Lands source said.
Ten days after the illegal removal,
the land was quickly transferred to University of Lusaka Limited, which claimed
to have paid the money lender US$2 million for the property.
UNILUS campus is right opposite the
retirement house of Mwanawasa in Silverest.
“The Registrar ought to be arrested
for their reckless decision. ACC must follow up the matter seriously,” the
source said.
The government is still constructing
the house of President Mwanawasa in line with the Former President Benefits Act
but a title deed was issued to former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa by mistake.
“You do not give title deeds to the
beneficiaries but to the executors of the will and only after the house is
ready to be handed over to the family,” the Ministry of Lands source said.
UNILUS which claims to have bought
the property ought to have known that the house is government property and
retirement house for the former President.
“There is even a Bill Board on the
gate stating that government is building retirement house for 3rd President of
the republic of Zambia. How did UNILUS buy such property without talking to Attorney-General?”
The source questioned the transaction.
Maureen Mwanawasa borrowed K1.2
million and used the retirement house as collateral.
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