Kalomo residents up in arms over repossessed plots
SOME Kalomo residents are up in arms with the local authority for repossessing over 300 residential and commercials plots after only giving them a five day ultimatum to redeem their premium charge for their pieces of land.
A cross section of the affected plot owners expressed shock over the councils’ decision to repossess their plots without giving them ample time for them to develop them.
They claimed that some of them have failed to develop their plots due to the prevailing harsh economic situation.
However, both kalomo Town council chairperson, Coy Makala and public relations officer, Charity Chaiwila say the decision was arrived at a special full council meeting where it was resolved to repossess the plots in accordance with the ‘Urban and Regional Planning Act of 2015.
The Act states that a property owner must develop the piece of land allocated to him or her for the intended purpose within a period of 18 months, failure to which gives the council powers to repossess such pieces of land and the same can be advertised to would be interested developers.
358 plots by Wednesday were on the list of being repossessed among them, high, medium and commercial ones in Namwianga, Bridge park, Bwacha and Magermany being advertised between the range of K18,000, K15,000, K10,000 and K6,000 with a K500.00 as an application fee.
“This serves to inform the public that all plots that were repossessed for failure to develop are available for sale. The method for purchasing the plots is on first come, first serve basis, starting Wednesday, December 18, 2019. “The council wishes to notify people whose plots have been repossessed and wish to advise them, that they can pay for them at a rebated 75 per cent plot premium within five days effective December 13, 2019.
“Those that bought plots after June 2018 from people who were initially offered by the council are hereby advised to change ownership within five days or risk their properties being enlisted among the repossessed ones,” read a memo signed by Kalomo town secretary, Oswell Mpofu dated December 13, 2019.