Leopards Hill owners seek compensation over land

THE owner of Leopards Hill ranch which is believed to encompass part of the cemetery has sued Government, seeking compensation in monetary form or alternative land.

Stephanus Janse Van Rensburg, a Zambian, cited the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Attorney General in his claims against the state.

He claimed to be the oldest son of late Staphanus Lawrence Janse Van Rensburg and a beneficiary of the said estate.

In his summons for leave to apply for Judicial Review filed in the Lusaka High Court, Mr Ransburg claimed that farm number F/322a, F/318a and F/902a which are located along Leopards Hill Road in Lusaka were compulsorily acquired by the State.

He said his family was not compensated or offered an alternative piece of land even though the government had promised to give them land to the extent of 16, 000 hectares, and equivalent to the land which was respossessed.

“In a letter dated June 24 2015, the Ministry of Lands and the Commissioner of Lands indicated to me that the ministry was in receipt of instructions from late President Levy Mwanawasa to allocate to my family alternative pieces of land measured in the extent of 16, 000 hactares being the size of the land which was compulsorily acquired by the State,” Mr Rensburg said.

He claimed he was made to believe that he would be given customary land anywhere in Zambia once the government had solicited land from chiefs especially in Northern or Muchinga provinces, as compensation.

Mr Rensburg said in September 2016, the ministry of Lands told him that alternative land had been found in North Western province in the extent of 1450 hectares and that it would facilitate the issuance of title.

Now Mr Rensburg wants the court to order that the action of the State to acquire land without compensating him was illegal and unlawful.

He also asked the court to issue an order that all necessary and consequential direction be given.