89-year-old Senanga woman seeks gov’t intervention over land dispute 

An 89-year-old woman of Senanga is seeking the intervention of the government in a land dispute.

Ms Mutumba Mutakatala’s nephews are threatening to repossess and sell the land left by her late father for which she is an administrator.

The Intestate Succession Act Chapter 59 0f the laws of Zambia clearly states that beneficiaries of properties left by a deceased person are the surviving spouse and children. But for Ms Mutakatala, one of her nephews is claiming ownership to the land and the matter is before the Senanga Magistrate Court but has been dragging since 2018 with very little or no progress despite her trekking from Mongu to Senanga for court sittings. 

It is disappointing that the Senanga Magistrate Court has failed to resolve the matter, which started in 2018. Ms. Mutakatala’s nephew who is the plaintiff is claiming ownership of the land left by his late grandfather, who was the father of Ms. Mutakatala.

It is just a few days after the office of the Administrator General sensitised the public on how the estate of the deceased people is supposed to be distributed which according to Chapter 59 of the Intestate Succession Act of the laws of Zambia, beneficiaries of the properties are the surviving spouse and the children but such things are already happening.

Ms. Mutumba Mutakatala is the duly appointed administrator of the properties of her late father, Mr. William Mutakatala and it is important that justice is served.

In view of the above, the late Mr. William Mutakatala’s children (Ms. Mutumba Mutakatala and her sister) are the absolute owners of the said land in question and therefore, we seek intervention from President Hakainde Hichilema into the matter, as the court is taking too long to settle.

In the interest of natural justice, Ms Mutakatala should be granted ownership of the properties together with her only other surviving sister. Justice delayed is justice denied.