Residents of Chibwemkunga area in Mkushi district have called on Government to take immediate action against a named land investor for allegedly intimidating the locals by firing gunshots.
Chibwemkunga headman, Edwin Mwape, told ZANIS that residents were demanding action against the land investor, identified as David Bunda, who is said to have used gunshots against the locals to vacate a stretch of land.
Headman Mwape explained that the land dispute involving Mr Bunda and the locals precipitated last Saturday when the investor allegedly gave an ultimatum to the locals to vacate a 3 km square area surrounding Chibewemkunga School in Chalata Ward.
He said prior to issuing this ultimatum, the investor had allegedly fired gunshots on the previous night, and had then sent his workers to inform the villagers that some armed men under his command would go to enforce the eviction.
The headman said although the investor had openly claimed to have bought the land in question, he could not produce any document to support his claim when the locals demanded to see the Land Title Deed.
Secretary for Chibwemkunga Concerned Residents, Frank Mate, mentioned that there was need for Government to thoroughly scrutinize Mr Bunda’s claim for ownership of the land, adding that the area was located in Chief Shaibila’s customary land.
Mr Mate observed that Mr Bunda could not have obtained this land via customary procedures as this Chiefdom was still without an officially installed Chief since 2009.
He implored Government to intervene into the matter, charging that it was not right for residents who have lived there for decades to be evicted from the area by an investor with questionable claims on the land.
Meanwhile, Acting Chief Shaibila, Alice Mashamo, expressed solidarity with the Chibwemkunga residents, saying their stay in that area had been acknowledged by the late Chief Shaibila who died in 2009.
Acting Chief Shaibila advised the residents against retaliating to Mr Bunda’s alleged intimidation tactics, saying there was need to leave such matters to law enforcement agencies.
She strongly pointed out that the Chiefdom was currently plagued by cases of illegal sale of land, adding that there was need for relevant authorities to quickly finalise the official installation of the chief.
She said that according to the Shaibila Chiefdom laws pertaining land, it was compulsory for ownership of land to be endorsed by the Chief only.
And Mkushi District Commissioner (DC), Christopher Chibuye, saluted Chibwemkunga for having opted to seek a solution to this matter through lawful means.
Mr Chibuye pledged that he would treat the matter with urgency by involving the higher echelons of the Government machinery.
He also directed the Police Command in Mkushi to commence immediate investigations into the allegations of firearm use by Mr Bunda, saying such behaviour could not be tolerated anywhere.
The Shaibila Chiefdom has been without an official chief since the demise of the late Chief in 2009, and the official installation procedure is currently being delayed by a succession wrangle involving two claimants to the throne.
ZANIS
I think these fake investors who want to play the “Cowboy, wild, wild, West” game in Zambia need to be met with the same kind force they believe in. If they feel guns solve problems, locals should also arm themselves and pay this f00l a visit.
He should realize that certain types of Zimbabweans have tried that nonsense and are now people without a country. What more foreigners in Zambia? Bunda, or whatever his name is, should not push his luck. I come from that area though not the same chiefdom and I hate to hear my people being mistreated, by “GOD KNOWS WHO THESE FOREIGN LAND VULTURES ARE,” in their own country. This kind of mentality is foreign to Zambia and it should not be allowed to take root!
My opinion and I am sticking to it!!!
Is this investor looking for burial ground or is he really looking to settle with the people in that area?
#2 Kalok, your question make more sense than the answer, someone said give “praise”.
I wonder what has gone wrong in Mkushi, there used to be experts of “lightening”, utulumba! That so-called investor bamulowe fye.
#2 Kalok, your question make more sense than the answer, someone said give “praise”.
You guys are not investors otherwise you would understand why Mr Bunda wants these guys off his property.
most of the people(zamians and foreigners) from towns are getting land so that they can sell at high price the Goverment must act otherwise.