GOVERNMENT has repossessed 257 plots from owners who failed to develop the land within the stipulated lease period as well as from those who failed to settle their ground rent.
And Government has given a three-month ultimatum to 606 other property owners to explain in writing why a certificate of re-entry should not be effected for the commencement of proceedings to repossess their title deeds.
Commissioner of Lands Barnaby Mulenga said Government has repossessed 257 plots because property owners failed to develop their plots within the period stipulated in the lease agreement.
Mr Mulenga said in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday that among the 257 plots ceased, are some plots whose owners failed to pay ground rents from the time they acquired the plots.
He said the lessees whose plots have been repossessed should surrender their title deeds and that failure to do so will result in the Registrar of Lands and Deeds to cancel the title of registration pursuant to Section 84 (f) of the Lands and Deeds Register Act.
“The Commissioner of Lands, acting for and on behalf of the President, pursuant to Section 13 of the Lands Acts, have this day re-entered upon the above mentioned plots on the grounds that the Lessee has failed to develop the said piece of land within the period stipulated in the Lease, and or you have failed to settle ground rent.
“All Lessees whose plots have been repossessed are expected to surrender their title deeds, failure to which the Registrar of Lands and Deeds will cancel the same in pursuant to Section 84 (f) of the Lands and Deeds Register Act,” reads part of the statement.
Mr Mulenga said Government is also intending to repossess 606 plots because some property owners have allegedly failed to follow the terms and conditions of the offer letter or lease agreement.
He said the owners of the 606 plots have been given a three-month ultimatum to explain in writing why the certificate of re-entry should not be entered in the register for the commencement of proceedings to repossess their title deeds for not paying ground rent as well as not developing their plots.
“Further take note that I, Barnaby Mulenga, Commissioner of Lands, acting for and on behalf of the President of the Republic of Zambia, intend to repossess the 606 properties.
“In pursuance of section 13 (1) of the Lands Act 1995 the owners of these properties are required to make representations in writing within three months from the date of this notice as to why the Certificate of re-entry should not be entered in the Register,” part of the statement reads .
Mr Mulenga said in line with the Lands Act Cap 184 of the Laws of Zambia, property owners are expected to observe terms and conditions of the Offer letter or Lease agreement with the President.
He said failure to observe the condition or term of the Lease agreement or letter of offer might result in the Commissioner of Lands repossessing the land from the title holders.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Have the owners been emailed or phoned before repossession? I presume not letters in this Info. Tech era.
Hmmm……………..yazanda! i hope this is a genuine exercise,we dont want to hear stories that the same plots have already been sold somewhere else
Land yamoneka mwebantu, obviously these plots will be sold or auctioned. I need to position myself. Opportunities come but once.
Ba MMD Assistant Chief Boot licker not many people in our country have access to high tech. Our country has not yet reached that level where every one can just be emailed. How many households have a computer or even this internet facility. Muletontokanya na bu boot licker bwenu
Ghostrider, I hear you…… All you folks in diaspora who need land, take Ghostrider’s advice.
we dont want political attached oppotunities.
Anyone with info which plots these are?
Someone approached me for a plot along Break Point gravel rd into libala South, but i found that these plots are yet to be surveyed.
Someone assist plz.
Why are we not reposesing that building in Katondo street.It has been like that for more than 20 years.Where is the political will and our laws in Zambia..Is the president,mulungoti and lundwe surely not aware????????Turn it into offices and classrooms for private colleges,beta than it is…
unservised plots, the council wants service charges but there is no water or sewarage. no one can grab a plot from me in that corrupt country only over my deadbody.
I am afraid this may turn into a Zimbabwe fiasco. Certain pople will be targetted. Some people have been waiting for title deeds to be issued for a long time with no success. I hope those pretending to be acting on behalf of GRZ will not be ‘stealing’ land from people who honestly acquired land but have not ‘developed’ it because Title Deeds have not been issued due to GRZ inertia. Whoever is handling this matter should proceed with great caution as the problems it will cause may last for generations. There is a wise saying:’ If it ai’nt broke, do not fix it’. You have been advised, for free!!!
that’s good news to those who don’t have relatives from the council to buy the plots from government becouse those who have failed were just given the plots or acquired the plots through bibery or prostitution. how can you travel to America when you don’t have money
Land should be thought of as an appreciating asset. Grabbing land because it is not developed was a ploy used by whites to limit access to real estate by black people. I am surprised we are using that archaic law on ourselves. We should be allowed to acquire and hold land as property. This is the basic form of collateral people can use to borrow money from micro lenders and in very rare situations from banks. But the government is coming in a getting all back? What kind of empowerment is this?
St00pid decisions by a St00pid government. # 12 is very correct. Weak property rights in Zambia contribute to povery levels. It does not make sense for govt to simply repossess without compensation. I fanything the whole idea of repossesion is stupid.
The only sensible contribution here is by Padre # 12. I have seen in the USA were land owners just plant trees on the land they have had for the past 50 years and it has not been repossesed. The only land that can be repossesed is that wre land rates are not bieng paid.
I don’t think most plot owners will be contacted or informed of the decision made in a reasonable amount of time. What the ministry of lands aught to do is list the affected plots in the news media and on the internet so that many people get to know about it. Hopefully those that no longer have valid mailing addresses will be verbally informed by their relatives or friends.
People in the diaspora did you read that? Just word of caution, never buy land and leave with these hungry thieves, thy giveth and thy take it away – for re-sale to another hopeless person in the diaspora
Land yalipwa, they keep selling the same plots keep your money, buy plots in smaller places like Kafue, Solwezi etc…. Lusaka is turning into a big ghetto
hon . Gr8 job bt please dnt interfere in the repposession exercise thats how gladys hit the fan and was thrown out of the window,let the law take its course with indian ,labanese and cadres
Corruption at higher level.
The government members need to stop stealing the little people have. Governemt need to buy back plots they sold or those scumbags need to payback the money before they take back those lands.
It is good that we all know what is going on.