‘Dirty’ property irks Kitwe Mayor
BY JOSSY CHAIMA
KITWE Mayor Christopher Kang'ombe is disappointed with lack of maintenance on most properties in the central business district and has given owners a 21-day ultimatum to paint and beautify the buildings.
Speaking when he, Kitwe District Commissioner Binwell Mpundu, and other council officials inspected the buildings yesterday, Mr Kang'ombe said there was need for a major face lift of Kitwe town centre because most buildings had not been maintained.
He warned of Kitwe City Council (KCC)’s action against the property owners if they failed to comply with the 21-day ultimatum.
Mr. Kang’ombe said KCC was acting under Public Health Act number 57, which empowered the local authority to inspect property at random.
And Mr. Mpundu said the council’s ultimatum was not aimed at punishing property owners.
He said the law compelled property owners to maintain their buildings and that the Kitwe administration’s vision was to transform the city’s outlook.
Mr Mpundu was also concerned that most business houses did not have President Lungu’s latest portrait approved by Cabinet, and gave owners a 21-day ultimatum to display it or risk having their business closed.
“Most of the places we have been to do not even have presidential portraits while others have old ones. It is law that every business place must have presidential portraits or risk having their businesses closed,” he said.
Business places inspected included Zanaco, Napsa, Stanbic Bank, YMCA, Hotel Edinburgh, and Zampost.