Kitwe councillors blame mayor

By NATION REPORTER SOME councillors at the Kitwe City Council have accused Mayor Christopher Kang’ombe of being behind illegal sale of land using selected councillors.

But Mr Kang’ombe rubbished the allegations against him and instead advised those accusing him to stop spreading lies.

The councillors, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the Daily Nation that part of the encroachment on the Copperbelt show ground land was done during Mr Kang’ombe’s tenure.

They said Mr Kang’ombe who is also the Patriotic Front (PF) Kitwe District Chairman, was using some councillors in the allocation of land without following established channels.

“Most of our colleagues at the council are giving blind loyalty to the Mayor because they work together in the illegal allocation of land. The Mayor is the masterminder, but wants to appear innocent.

“So even the encroachment on the show ground premises, he has been using the area councillor to engage in the vice. I can tell you that some of the encroachment was done before his term, but Part of the show land was encroached upon during his term,” a councillor said. The councillors said some of their colleagues had be- come the Mayor’s “bootlickers” and had abandoned their role of serving the electorate.

They said on the councillors’ group chat on whatsapp, some councillors as early as 06.00 hours, would be “hero worshiping” the Mayor, showering praises on him instead of discussing developmental issues.

But when contacted Mr Kang’ombe dismissed the allegations insisting that at no time had been involved in illegal allocation of land.

Mr Kang’ombe said the encroachment on the Copperbelt show premises opposite Wusakile Township were done in 2014 and 2015 before he became Mayor and added that councillors should not tell lies about him.

He said he had in fact decided to halt the construction works of a church building near the show grounds so that the matter could be amicably resolved through dialogue. “I have decided to halt the construction works because I want to dialogue with the church so that we can find an alternative place. Those councillors who are saying all sorts of things, they are just lying.

“If councillors are lying to you, tell them to produce evidence. I have evidence. So for the sake of dialogue, I have decided to halt the construction works,” Mr Kang’ombe said.