WORKS and Supply Minister, Mike Mulongoti has expressed concern over the illegal construction of houses at the Independence Stadium which are close to the perimeters of the area where the new Lusaka Stadium will be built.
The minister said in an interview that the construction of houses and other buildings too close to the stadium was making work for the local authorities like the Lusaka City Council (LCC) extremely difficult.
And LCC public relations manager, Chanda Makanta described the construction on the boundary of Independence Stadium popularly known as ‘Humanism Hill’ as illegal adding that the local authority would conduct a survey and would soon make a decision on what action to take.
Makanta said in an interview yesterday that it was unfortunate that people had continued to erect buildings in undesignated places. The council will do an on the spot check and will advise on what action would be taken on the illegal squatters.
She said LCC would do everything within its means to ensure that residents are restrained from building illegal structures.
“For now our stance is that those structures are illegal. As I have earlier said, we wouldn’t allow people to build so close to the stadium, and in this case, right next to the wall of the stadium. It is not right.”
“They are there illegally. We would not allow structures to be built so close to the stadium. It is a challenge because the city of Lusaka has grown so big that the council does not have the capacity to contain its growth.
For example, we have less building inspectors and surveyors and because of that we are hardly on the ground to see what is happening,” Makanta said.
Shanghai Construction Group (SCG) of China is set to redevelop the old Independence Stadium soon after the rainy season and is also scheduled to construct a 50,000 capacity state-of the-art stadium next to the 46-year-old arena following the ground breaking ceremony by President Rupiah Banda and Chinese vice Premier, Hui Liangyu in Lusaka on Monday.
President Banda said at the ground breaking ceremony that engineers and other experts were expected on the site immediately and that works would begin after the rains. The president said the two projects have been funded by a concession loan of US$94 million from the Peoples Republic of China and are expected to be completed in 2013.
The new stadium will be the largest in Zambia while Independence Stadium will be the second largest followed by the 41,000 capacity stadium currently under construction in Ndola and set to be completed in June.
This is strange coming from the LCC public relations manager. Don’t they know what to do with illegally constructed structures? Quit pussy-footing around and demolish them. That’s why Zed cities and towns are such an eyesore cause of failure by local authorities to regulate construction.
But mu Zambia Muli vabu puba ati! How do you build two (1st and 2nd biggest stadiums) next to each other? that is so lame, we have clowns for thinkers in this country running it like a circus….foolish!!! Ma rabishi!!
south african, brazil and other countries have big stadia next to each other.
ni vau puba iyi chhikalaa?
Where was LCC when these structures were being constructed. The problem with LCC PRM is that she’s hardly on the ground, she always makes statements, issues threats from the comfort of her office instead of the being were the action is.If the structures are illegal go ahead and demolish them. Kitwe City Council does not hesitate to do so.
Go to Zimbabwe and learn from them what their city councils and government does. You are a let down! You are even moaning over this when you know what the law says? Ubupuba!
The building of a new stadium right next to the old is a very STUP!D idea . But this RB Government is retarded , what would you expect of them .
They want to show you and remind you forever of what once was , and now is because of them .
They be like .
Look at this old stadium , …… Now look at this new state of the art stadium RB built for Zambia in his first 3 years of ruling Zambia .
I would not be at all surprised if they decide to name the new stadium after RB … You wait and see .
RB international stadium .
Who is running the Lusaka City Council, oh wait I forgot…it is PF. Do something PF controlled LCC.
Mr. Capitalist -you are wrong those houses in 2004-2007.
the mmd gave them the land(ma plots).
This is what happens when politicians ware more than one cap. They are both politicians and technocrats at same time, the net result is embarrassment. Surely it does not sound right to have both stadia (old and new) next to each other. I think it is not too late to change the site, after all it is just ground breaking that has been done. The people in Govt should try and take these PF run councils to other well planned countries for orientation/training so that we can stop this mess. Nigeria with huge oil resources had to relocate their capital from Lagos to Abuja because Lagos became just one big slum .
Zambianisationi @2 – Johannesburg Stadium is next to Ellis Park Stadium and they are both very big.
And baLT, you mean I can’t talk about my pu.ssy cat on this forum?
They are just fumes. No action. This country is a mess. Airports have been encroached. Water sources have been encroached. Whats a stadium in comparison. Let them build.
What do you expect with the high corruption levels in LCC.I bet the guys who allocated those plots have already eaten the money.
Aren’t they better off modernising the old stadium and using the left over lolly for Woodlands stadium upgrade??
This council, where were they when this buildings were being put up? it is this kind of of vision and leadership that we don’t need this year, lets vote for a government that does not know what the are doing!!!
to much drama pa zed..where have u been all the while?
The plots are being given by MMD chairmen under the direction of H.E. William Banad, chairperson of Lusaka Province. LCC which is full of PF illiterate councilors has very little say.We have a sham in government and a sham in the opposition
Mulongoti, appoint a ward councillor in thaty area , who will be NMMD of course, then instruct council to give those peple electricity and the problem will be solved. Shanty compound nation.
I’m sure LCC bylaws dont permit this.
Crying over spuilled milk wont help. Demolish them and cage the people that gave out the Plots. William Banda and RB…
Is there any law and order in Zambia? How and why is William Banda being allowed to allocate land? I don’t understand my country of birth!
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