Settlement upgrade starts

GOVERNMENT has started giving occupancy licences to residents as part of the national upgrading programme of unplanned settlement.

In Makululu compound in Kabwe, residents have started receiving the occupancy licences and the exercise would soon be extended to other towns.

Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary, Ed Chomba, said paper work was being done to ensure that other residents in Lusaka’s Kanyama, Chibolya and Misis compounds begin to obtain their occupancy licences which would serve as full certificate of title.

Bishop Chomba said the awarding of occupancy licenses was part of the initial stages of upgrade of unplanned settlements.

In an interview yesterday, Bishop Chomba said upgrading of the unplanned settlements had several components which needed to be followed keenly.

He said Government was making headway in ensuring that the programme came to fruition.

“Progress has been made in upgrading unplanned settlements. We are on course to ensure that the programme is actualized. Upgrading of Makululu compound in Central Province which is the largest unplanned settlement in the country has already begun,” he said.

Last year President Edgar Lungu revealed that Misisi and Chibolya compounds in Lusaka would be demolished and modernised.

President Lungu said Misisi, Chibolya and other unplanned settlements were overcrowded, with most urban residents lacking adequate access to proper housing, energy, clean and safe drinking water.

Residents also lacked proper sanitation, transport services, quality health services, quality education and employment opportunities.

He said these factors exacerbate environmental degradation and diseases such as cholera. But Bishop Chomba indicated that the upgrading programme included planning, infrastructure provision and improving tenure of land.

“Our part as Local

Government on this important programme is the planning aspect. We have been having a number of meetings to ensure that everything goes on well.

“So we are doing all what we can to ensure that the programme is actualised. Like on the issue of Makululu resident are being issued with occupancy licences, this a step we have made everything will go on well for our people to live decent lives like anybody else,” he said.

Bishop Chomba said that soon progress would be made to start the upgrading of Kanyama area in Lusaka.

He said that resources would be made available to ensure that the progress began in the area.