ILLEGAL STRUCTURES CHOKE SOLWEZI
In line with section 13 (2) of the Act, the local authority was required to regulate, control and plan for the development and use of land.
— Bornwell Luanga
SOLWEZI has been choked with illegal structures most of which have been connected to water and electricity supply, Town Clerk Bornwell Luanga has said. Mr Luanga observed that residents have been carrying out illegal developments
without the benefit of planning permission as required by the Urban and Regional Planning Act No 3 of 2015. He said the local authority was finding it difficult to control illegality because of manpower shortage in the development control unit. He was speaking when he presented a report to the second quarter full council meeting. Mr Luanga said in line with section 13 (2) of the Act, the local authority was required to regulate, control and plan for the development and use of land. Additionally, he said, the local authority was required to receive and process applications for planning permission for the development of land. "But what has been noted is that even with developments which have not been approved by the council, developers do apply to the power and water utility companies for service provision and they are dully serviced," Mr Luanga said. Mr Luanga said utility companies would be requested to demand for approved building plans from any person or company applying for service. "Where building plans may not have been approved but dully submitted to the council, a letter should be sought from the local authority to clear such applicants," he said. And Mr Luanga said the local authority was responding well to the decentralisation process by working closely with the devolved ministries’ heads of departments. He said the projects being undertaken in collaboration with various Government departments were community driven, a key component of decentralisation. The municipality, he said, had built and renovated a number of schools across the district under education. Mr Luanga said the council had contributed to promotion of agriculture through maintenance of roads and bridges that help farmers transport their produce. He said so far, works on the upgrading to bituminous standard of the Solwezi Nursing School to Solwezi Royal hotel had started. "From there, we will also tar the Nkana College of Education road, Kimasala clinic road and Kizhingezhinge – Kawama roads,”he said.