Minister confronts cadres

...warns against grabbing land

By BENNIE MUNDANDO

WE will not tolerate a situation where people are invading private land in the name of being party cadres where they think they can grab any open space and claim it is theirs because property owners have a right to privacy, Minister of Lands Jean Kapata has warned.

And Ms. Kapata has demanded for the immediate removal of individuals that have created an illegal bus station and a trading place on Libala Primary School land in Lusaka.

The minister also warned suspected PF cadres who are erecting a car wash on the other end that they would not be allowed because their structure would be under electricity pylons which poses a health risk.

Speaking after inspecting the controversial twin farm No. 693/A/28 in Barlastone yesterday, Ms. Kapata said a lot has been said about her giving permission to cadres to invade other people’s property and that she had to step out of her comfort zone by personally going to the farm to have a clear picture of what was obtaining on the ground.

“We are not going to tolerate people coming in the name of caderism and invading people’s land. I did say at that time that no cadres are allowed to evade any land.

“If there is anybody who has land invaded by cadres, please come and report to the Ministry of Lands. We will make sure we remove them. People must have privacy to their property. You can’t just find an open space and say this is my land,” Ms. Kapata warned.

She said the ministry will sort out the Barlastone furore once and for all after comparing records to ascertain who the real owners were.

Meanwhile, Ms. Kapata has demanded that the bus station that has been created on Libala Primary School land and a trading area be abandoned immediately as it was not safe for pupils to learn under the current atmosphere.