TIMELY ACTION

FOR those who have followed the land scandals in the country, the suspension of two of the country’s biggest councils – Lusaka and Kitwe - is not surprising.

These are councils in which illegal allocation of land is rife, with some cases pending in the courts of law. Ideally, by virtue of being city councils, they should be acting as role models to smaller local authorities.

Minister of Local Government and Housing Charles Banda yesterday announced Government’s decision to suspend the two councils.

At the same time, the government also announced the suspension of their land agency through Lands Minister Jean Kapata.

The minister said that he has decided to suspend the two councils under section 58 of the Local Government Act. He said this will give chance to correct ills in the two local authorities.

Dr Banda said that the decision to suspend the two councils has also been arrived after a tour which was undertaken in Emmasdale, Lusaka on Friday, and discovered some irregularities in the planning permissions.

This is hardly surprising to keen observers on the operations of the Lusaka City Council on its dealings with land issues, particularly in Emmasdale residential area.

This is one area in which this newspaper has reported repeatedly on how some roads have been closed because “a person of influence” managed to “persuade” the city fathers to allow for the construction of a wall.

This has not only inconvenienced ordinary citizens but even government institutions as illegal developments have been allowed near their premises thereby disrupting the flow of traffic.

But these issues have all been ignored.

What broke the camel’s back appears to be a public alternation between Matero Member of Parliament Lloyd Kaziya and a Matero councillor for ward 28 Annie Chinyanta that went viral – though that could be one of the few instances one could thank social media.

That public quarrel between the two leaders that was roundly condemned by the public prompted Dr Banda with Ms Kapata to make an on the spot visit.

Dr Banda said after touring the site to establish whether the land in question was indeed a road reserve and not suitable for any form of development.

It was found that an individual was given temporal permission by the council to install a trading container on temporal basis for six months.

Dr Banda explained that the land in question is on a road reserve and directly under the 11 KV Zesco pylon hence the area is unsuitable for the intended development.

He said that the government will not tolerate any illegality and disorderly allocation of land and that any officer or civic leader found wanting would be reprimanded.

Dr Banda, while conceding that illegal land dealings were rife throughout the country, noted that Lusaka and Kitwe had gone overboard, and we agree.

Just last week, Local Government Permanent Secretary Bishop Ed Chomba was forced to cancel all approved permits for plots near the Presidential Guest House in Kitwe. Some plots were barely five metres from the building.

And the strange thing about the Kitwe saga was that councillors were implicated as being behind the allocations.

It is such illegal acts in local councils that result in the public losing confidence in local authorities, which are supposed to bring government closer to the people through decentralisation.

Of concern is that some people seek elective office not to serve but to enrich themselves by abrogating their civil and legal obligations to engage in shady land deals.

But hopefully, the decisive action taken against Lusaka and Kitwe will serve as a warning to other councils to get back to serious work and deliver.