Councils counselled on demolitions

LOCAL authorities must be seen to be proactive and tactful in the manner they handle issues when it comes to demolishing of illegal structures, founding Patriotic Front member Beatwell Chisala has said.

And Mr Chisala said local authorities should address such challenges to prevent people from losing out on their little resources through demolitions.

He argued that in as much as councils were mandated to ensure people did not acquire land illegally, it was wrong to demolish structures when they were complete.

If someone make a foundation on an illegal settlement, the authorities should stop them as they were mandated by law to administer land on behalf of the Government to avoid loses.

He said it was better to stop people from constructing illegally when at foundation levels instead of waiting to demolish once the structures were at roof level or completed.

“It is wrong to let people build and have their structures demolished when they had wasted their resources, and yet the situation was supposed to be dealt with a time when someone is at foundation level,” he said.

He also wondered why the some councils at some point demolish the houses without giving people notices, saying people should be notified before they even build.

“Where do these councils go when people are starting to construct on land which is said to be illegal, and these are some of the things that should be taken into consideration as Zambia is modernising and trying to improve the infrastructure,” he lamented.

He advised councils to carry out massive sensitisation on land acquisition or any property in their quest to maintain law and order in the country.