The exercise which was carried out in conjunction with the Lusaka City Council (LCC) and Zambia Police Service, started on March 26 around 23:00 hours until the early hours of March 27.
Task Force on land spokesperson Mukela Lubasi confirmed that the task force went to farm 915A where people had built houses on land whose title is held by the LCC.
She said the land in question is alleged to have been shared by the LCC Councillors.
“This land belongs to the council because it holds title for it but we found that people had put up structures on the land which is earmarked for a housing project,” she said.
Ms Lubasi said the task force also razed houses and uncompleted structures along Kasama Road in Chilenje South.
She said three houses built on land meant for the construction of a police post and market was demolished.
Other structures which were demolished are at a place called shaft five where the LCC has put up boreholes for the supply of water to Lusaka residents.
“We found that people have even dug pit latrines, posing a danger to the water reticulation system with fears of water contamination,” she said.
Ms Lubasi said the task force had given the residents prior notice of the action that was to be taken on properties built illegally.
She said the role of the Ministry of Lands is to give out land but the problem is that some people buy property from the street. Mr Lubasi said the task force will not allow the construction of illegal structures.
Asked how the victims took the action, Ms Lubasi said some did not resist while others tried to resist. She said the task force insisted that the structures were built on illegally acquired land.
But some residents complained that it was unfair for members of the task force to conduct the exercise at night when people were trying to rest.
Ms Lubasi said members of the public should obtain proper documentation before building any structure.
“The action by the task force was done in accordance with the law. We referred to the Lands, as well as the Town and Country Acts, when we undertook this exercise. We would like to encourage people to operate within the confines of the law,” he said.
Early this year, President Banda formed a task force to deal with illegal land allocation and encroachment.
The task force is made up of officials from the Ministry of Lands, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources, Ministry of Justice and the LCC.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Pathetic, Pathetic,Pathetic
Pathetic that people should pit up buildings on illegally acquired land.
they should also move in on private lands thats have been given to MMM canders in makeni Area!
Clean up the town. Could the local council also seriously consider approving building plans before structures are erected. There are too many ugly structures around.
Unfortunately, thats what you get when you have a non-functional local government.
but why were they allowed to get that far with their building?
I seriously don’t understand the role of the council, how did those structures get approved? in as much as we agree that, they are illegal someone at the council must have approved the structures and that person must be punished.
the task force should also consider demolishing structures that dont conform to building regulations or offer recommendations so that they conform to regulations. i propose they start with town centre, kamwala and industrial areas and spread to the city of lusaka. its high time that the task force address such issues when these illigalities are starting rather than wait until its too late
But how can pipo decide to raze other pipo’s structures in the nite even if they are illegal cribs? did they give notice? These characters that make these decisions, do they have a heart for their fellow Zambians? Bafik….;.?
How does one get hold of the task force on land? I have another assignment for them in libala south, council plot grabbing.
@Mulongazium, if you take time to read the article you’ll see that prior notification was given. Laws are laws and they need to be enforced. The fact of the matter is Lusaka’s population is growing at such a rapid rate, the council is overwhelmed, resulting in poor delivery of basic services. A long term solution need to be found otherwise we’ll have a big problem on our hands.
So now the trend is to let something get out of hand then institute Task Force(s)??? What a state of affairs.
Poor planning and corruption are the causes according to our research students. Demolish all illegal structures, but don’t do them at night. All shanties should be demolished too. build better structures and rent or sell them to the people who had illegally lived there.
Its correct for the task force to demolish all illegal structures, but its poorly timed as we only see action or hear about it when the law is broken….When will we hear there has been a preventative measurement taken to avoid further land or illegal structures occupied or built illegally. I will not applaud when such course of action is taken when poor people are suffering, who can’t even get land because everyone seems corrupt by the day in term of land distribution. How then will ordinary Zambians have to get land.
#13 Matero University, you certainly run a proper university, I like the research of your students. But I understand that Mr Sata was your student, so how come you produced that type of graduate from among such brilliant students?
Please also demolish illegal structures in Ibex Hill, Lusaka West and UNZA farm in Chongwe!
How far is the issue of Lucy Changwe? Concerned citizen over selective targets
Because the Land in Question was not properly shared amongst LCC Task Force Members , This is the End Result -What a Government !