MINISTER IN LAND ROW
At a recent meeting on Sunday, Ms Phiri reportedly refused to let go of the land unless she was compensated by the Chongwe council as she has spent a lot to develop the land.
And Ms. Phiri who confirmed meeting the residents’ committee told the Daily Nation that she was ready to give up the land if the community insists on getting it but insisted that this can only happen if she is compensated.
Ms Phiri has pleaded with the community of Silverest area in Ntandabale ward of Chongwe to accept her as one of their own amid a feud over land she is alleged to have grabbed from them.
Speaking during an interview, Silverest residents’ association committee chairperson Mr. Kelly Nswana disclosed that the minister asked the community to consider calling off the stand-off between her and the community. He said that the minister made the appeal during a meeting with the committee on Sunday afternoon.
He said that she claimed that she genuinely acquired the land in dispute and had spent a fortune on it. He disclosed that the minister asked for understanding from the community whom she said were hostile to her.
He revealed that she indicated that she would only give up the land on condition that she is compensated for the cost of the developments on the land.
He however stressed that the minister should have been honourable enough by giving up the land as she has another piece of land in the same area. “How can she hold on to this piece of land when she has another piece of land where she has built a house while the community clinic remains a pipe dream,” Mr. Nswana asked.
He said the local authority had made it clear that it had not given her authority to develop and as such they were better placed to say whether her compensation claim would be justified.
Mr. Nswana also disclosed that the community had vowed to cling on to the piece of land as it was originally theirs. He was quick to point out that the land in question was the biggest single plot in the area and was centrally located, making it an ideal location for a public amenity such as a clinic.
He also welcomed the decision by the council to find alternative land for the minister as the land dispute has dragged on for far too long and as such had to come to an end. He said that this has hindered the construction of a clinic thereby making life unbearable for the community.
Meanwhile, Chongwe municipal council Director legal services, Namakau Sumbwa declined to comment and referred all queries to the town clerk. However the town clerk could not be reached by press time.