‘Resolve Mulobezi, Mwandi district boundary dispute’

RESIDENTS

of Mulobezi and Mwandi have appealed for the quick resolution of the boundary disputes between the two districts.

They have petitioned the Provincial Local Government Officer (PLGO) to expedite the process so that the boundaries could be clearly marked.

Since the establishment of Mulobezi and Mwandi as districts in January 2012, communities in the two districts had been asking for clear demarcations of the boundary.

However, the boundary disputes started in 2017, during the first meeting which was held to resolve and establish the boundary but unfortunately, the case could not be put to rest.

Since then, talks had continued between the two administrations but no conclusive solution had been reached.

Mulobezi Town Council Public Relations Officer, Elvis Muleya, announced that discussions had been going on over the boundary issue.

Mr Muleya explained that following a meeting which was held on June 18, 2020 at Namakombwe, attended by the PLGO, a sign of harmony was established signalling that the issue would be resolved.

He said that stakeholders from the two districts concluded the talks over the boundary and now, they await a decision from the Government.

Mr Muleya said earlier another meeting was held on October 29, 2018 at Namuzingu School after receiving the descriptions which showed that the boundary was actually at the point where Ipupumo stream crosses Mulobezi- Simungoma road.

“The area of tension is the rejection of Ipupumo stream which is between Namuzingu

Primary School and the Mulobezi District check point as the point of boundary between the two districts as described in the narrative.

“But, stakeholders from Mwandi disputed that and instead, suggested that Zowe Bride, an area of almost 30km from the actual boundary going into Mulobezi district is the actual boundary,” he said. Mr Muleya said because of that confusion, a meeting was called last which was attended by the PLGO and the surveyor in order to settle the dispute.

And now, the two communities are calling upon the PLGO to expedite the process so that the issue could be resolved once and for all.

FILE PHOTO ; The boundary disputes started in 2017, during the first meeting which was held to resolve and establish the boundary but unfortunately, the case could not be put to rest.