Vegetable farmers accuse councillor of ‘dumping’ them

By ROGERS KALERO FIFTEEN small-scale vegetable farmers of Kaunda Square in Kitwe’s Buntungwa Ward have accused their councillor William Nyirenda of conniving with some rich people to displace them from a piece of land.

The farmers claimed Mr Nyirenda wanted to sell the piece of land where they had been growing vegetables for more than 10 years.

But, Mr Nyirenda denied the allegations saying the land in question belonged to a Mr Sampa and that there was no way he could sell land that was on title.

Speaking on behalf of the 15 farmers, Mr Reuben Nyemesha said the people in the area were shocked that the ward Councillor, who had promised to help legally acquire the piece of land, had suddenly u-turned and was supporting Mr Sampa.

Mr Nyemesha said, according to investigations by the farmers, the ward councillor had sold a piece of land to Mr Sampa because he had money.

"From the beginning, we have been moving at a good and promising pace with our councillor. He promised to help us acquire this piece of land where we have been growing vegetables. He told us to write application letters for plots in the same land, but suddenly things changed when this Sampa came on the scene.

"He has decided to dump us and embrace Sampa because he has money. So from our own investigations, there is collusion between the councillor, Mr Sampa and officers at the council to push us away from this piece of land," Mr Nyemesha claimed.

But, Mr Nyirenda denied the allegations insisting the piece of land in question belonged to a Mr Sampa and that there was no way he could sell land which was on title.

Mr Nyirenda said he had made efforts to help the farmers acquire the piece of land, but stopped when he learnt that the piece of land was on title. "That piece of land belongs to Mr Sampa and if the owner wants to subdivide it and sell it, he can do that. I can't do anything. I can't sell that piece of land. How can I sell the piece of land which is on title?”