Shibuyunji district council, 2 headmen dragged to court over land

TWO headmen of Shibuyunji district and the district council have been dragged to the Lusaka High Court for allegedly offering customary land to Chinese nationals.

In a statement of claim filed in court, Headwoman Shabasunje and eight other residents of Shibuyunji sought the court's declaratory order that they were owners of the land in the extent of 4,000 hectares in Chief Shakumbila’s chiefdom.

They are also seeking an order of injunction to restrain the council and the two headmen from interfering with their enjoyment of the land they occupy.

They alleged that in June 2017, three of the plaintiffs, namely James Munkibila Muyuni, Denwid Mweemba and Edna Muyuni applied to have the land they occupied converted from customary land to lease hold tenure so that they could obtain certificate of title on land which was 250 hectors each.

The plaintiffs claimed that Senior Chief Shakumbila consented by signing the presented survey diagrams in respect of each of the land applied for and they were charged K120,000 each.

They claimed that in January 2018, they received information that the council and the two headmen had offered over 2,000 hectors of land to Chinese nationals and the said land covered a big part of the land which they occupied.

They complained that the entire community used the same land for cultivation and grazing their animals.

They alleged that despite being petitioned, the council and the two headmen continued with their plans to grab their land and allocate it to the Chinese nationals, causing serious pain and uncertainties of their future.

They however, want an order to compel the defendants to recognize their legal and entitlement to the land and use for cultivation and grazing of livestock.