LAND MISUSE
GOVERNMENT must indeed act fast to save the beauty of the country’s towns and cities from the wanton damage being carried out through uncalled for structures.
Demolitions have not been ruled out where rules and regulations have been flouted. If such measures will bring sanity, then they must be speeded up.
In residential areas, open spaces that were left as play parks have disappeared as greedy developers have grabbed the plots and built houses on them.
Local Government Minister Charles Banda is right to voice his concern and his warning must be a clear signal to councils throughout the country that the game is up.
It is sad that residential areas have become concrete jungles, what with concrete wall fences and every available space hosting a building.
What boggles the mind is what has happened to the concept about town planning, that designates residential and business premises.
We welcome the statement by Dr Banda in which Government has warned local authorities against approving unnecessary change of land use from play parks or open spaces to any other use.
The minister noted that his office has continued to receive applications from people intending to change land use designated for play parks and recreation facilities for personal gains, despite the 2018 circular on change of land use for parks or open spaces still in effect.
In the first place, how do these individuals pick out play parks and apply to convert them to other uses for which they were not intended for in the initial stage?
Dr Banda was prompted to issue the warning after he visited some selected parks and open spaces located in different parts of Lusaka and discovered that houses and other buildings have been erected on the land meant for recreation.
Dr Banda lamented that in spite of the important role that these facilities play in creating a conducive urban environment, all the parks and open spaces in the country are either in bad state or some people have changed the use of the land to other activities.
It is good that the minister is taking a pro-active stance against the ills going on in the misuse of land not only in Lusaka but is obviously an everyday occurrence in other parts of the country.
What this proves is that the local authorities have lost control over the use of land in their localities. Or could it just be plain greediness among the local leaders who disregard regulations for a “wad of notes.”
It definitely appears to be the case because as Dr Banda explained, there is actually a standing 2018 circular on change of land use for parks or open spaces still in effect.
With this no-nonsense approach, we expect the Lusaka City Council to act swiftly and demolish such illegal structures as directed by the minister.
The minister noted that they were built without following the right procedures of land acquisition.
“I would like to state that we will not tolerate and allow the change of land use that is meant for play parks and open spaces for other personal gains such as residential and commercial by unruly individuals.
“I also want to note that the 2018 circular on change of land use for parks or open spaces is not permitted,” Dr Banda said.
It is quite demoralising that budding athletes in residential areas have to play their football, basketball and other sports activities on roads because play parks have been seized by politically-connected individuals.
Moreover, Dr Banda’s tour in Lusaka is a clear signal that Government is on the right track for having suspended the Lusaka and Kitwe city councils to pave way for investigations in the mismanagement of land.
Let sanity return to residential areas with clearly designated housing units and open spaces where people could breathe freely.
Dr Banda must not relent in his efforts to restore orderliness in the manner that land is administered.