UPND vice-president Richard Kapita has reiterated his party’s call to the PF government to immediately halt the demolition of people’s houses going on in Kitwe and find a more humane solution.
Three women have so far given birth in the cold after their homes were demolished in Kitwe by a combined Zambia and Council Police force.
Speaking when he visited the affected homeless families over the weekend and when he addressed meetings in Kitwe, Kapita accused the PF government of having created the problem in the first place.
“It is a well-known fact that Kitwe City Council and others on the Copperbelt have been controlled by PF for a very long time now. It is the PF cadres running these councils on the Copperbelt that have been illegally and corruptly allocating these plots to residents during daylight. It is treacherous for them to now go at midnight and start razing people’s homes while people are sleeping with their children,” Mr. Kapita said.
Kapita, who also welcomed hundreds of defectors from PF and MMD to the UPND, said PF now in government need to properly and humanely resettle those people because they caused the situation in the place.
He disclosed that his party has so far offered some help in form of food and blankets to some affected families, especially that this was winter.
“I have to make it clear here that UPND does not support illegality of occupying other people’s properties. That is our stance as a party. But we all know that PF has been running these councils on the Copperbelt, Lusaka and other parts of the country for sometime now even before they came into office. Their cadres running these councils caused this problem by illegally and corruptly allocating plots to these people who thought they were dealing with genuine people. PF now in government should find an amicable solution to the mess they created than going round at night demolishing homes and leaving people with young children, in the cold” Mr. Kapita said.
And during his tour, Kapita learnt that over 600 families are now sleeping in the cold after their houses were demolished.
He questioned where the PF led councils were, when people were spending huge sums of money building houses to completion level only to demolish them at night in the cold season.
Mr. Kapita was also saddened to learn that three women from different families have so far given birth but have no houses to get back to, so they are spending night in the open air on makeshift beds. “This is appalling”, quipped Kapita.
He described the situation as very touching and cruel of the highest order on the part of the regime that claims to be a caring and poor people’s government.
I will comment later. Let me first read.
Women should stop getting pregnant use the women condoms or drink that tablet I’ll that my current Chinese girlfriend is drinking
Nanguwaitila Shani guys kutanuka
Mwambazi, what are you saying. English only please.
Thanks
Have you just discovered how evil Sata is .
Sata knew that his councillors in PF run councils were giving out plots illegally but he did nothing to stop it because it was helping PF gain popularity. Now that PF’s popularity is dwindling in those areas, he has instructed those councils to repossess that land and demolish any structure built on it.
Sata now wants to use the same plots being repossessed to win support by reallocating them to those will who will swear to support PF in 2016 general elections.
This is Sata’s vengeance at it’s best. Now you the monster you support unreservedly.
Folks
First foremost, political cadres of any political standing to be barred from issuing land. Any one caught to serve 2 years jail sentence and banned from politics for five years.
The way forward to avoid illegal structures mushrooming on illegally acquired land is to introduce planning permission for any structure to be erected. Through such measures the councils and ministry of land will not grant building permission to people intending to build on illegally acquired land. Toughen the planning and building regulations so that a prerequisite for applying for planning permission to build is title deed showing land ownership, without which no permission will be granted.
If only Sata had a wife wih a heart, those women in pituctes would be sleeping under a roof tonight.
Zambia is a riot! Its the wild west!
Too bad but was the Government involved when they were getting these plots illegally ? What role did Government play in their illegal acquisition of land ? Let’s be fair at times. Often times its been said that land can only be acquired from the local authority or Ministry of Lands but many have ignored all this caution & fallen for “soothesaying” councillors now see the result. I doubt the victims even have genuine documents of title for their demolished property. Look at the cost of illegality. May this exercise extend nationwide so law breakers mustn’t get away with impunity. its very unfortunate but the right thing to do.Laws, rules, precepts, commands must and must be obeyed.
The devil reincarnate HH is to blame for looting the privatisation money meant to develop the copperbelt , most miners including my Uncle died waiting for their benefits which were channelled to chunsu HH ‘s account.
I know he is a freemason but there is a God out there, and he will pay for the sufferings on the copperbelt. Pitful !!
@kombo
So are suggesting that you voted for Sata a wimp who can not challenge HH to repay the money you are alleging he stole.
If thats true why not ask Sata your man of mad action to demand that money from HH?
Stop hallucinating and face facts. The fact Sata and Chiluba diverted that money for their personal gain. There is no money from any of those companies that got into HH’ s account. Any amount HH got for his services was paid to his company by the government for which Sata was a part of.
Agony is having dance on the faithful night of August 2011 and only to be awaken in the night in June 2014 to have your house pulled down.
Chanda Chimba said Sata will come and take away even the little you have but we neglected.Today his prophecy has become true.
there is a live programme on tv 1 which you can watch online on the kitwe demolition-and the spokesperson for the demolished houses has revealed that -THE PLOTS WHERE GIVEN TO THE AFFECTED BY MMD AS A VOTE BUYING MEASURE IN 2009 AND NO MONIES WHERE PAID FOR THE PLOTS-what they are aggrieved with is the manner the demolition was done-he recognised the illegality in the manner the plots where issued
To make the system work better and fairly, land will be allocated by government and demarcated . Then applications have to be invited from the poor who do not currently own a plot or house of their own at a fee of course. Once the applications have been processed, each applicant should be allocated with a number which is then put in a box for a ruffle like approval exercise to cut down corruption. Then hold a draw day when winners of the plots are drawn from the box at random. In this way only a f00lish man/woman would bribe an official for plot and corruption will be reduced to zero.
There will of course be certain areas opened up for every one with money to buy a plot but the ruffle system of allocation to apply in such a case as well.
Just a suggestion. Any more suggestions…
Also KK,Chiluba & Mwanawasa warned us but we couldn’t listened.We will reap what we sow.
Shows how foolish and irresponsible the council and Government are?? Firstly how did these Illegal houses come about? Why didn’t they stop the people just when they saw some developments?? The same Council gave these people these plots because they are all corrupt. What these Dull PF Cadres and Fat ministers are doing is creating a problem than resolving the issue. Zambia will never move forward because the authority are so dull. What a country??
While i sympathize with the people who lost their homes i can`t blame the government for doing what they have had done. Those people were told earlier before they even started building those houses that their property are being built on illegal land but they never heeded the advice from the local authorities.They have only themselves to blame.And you Kapita don`t just condemning just for the sake of it,we shouldn’t encourage lawlessness.They made their bed ,now they have to sleep in it.
That is Sata for you. Prior to the elections in 1991, When Sata was minister of local government, he allowed UNIP secton chairmen to issue plots to poor people in order to win support from the people and make UNIP popular in anticipation of the 1991 elections.
Now what happened next shocked me. Sata joined MMD and once MMD ascended to power Sata retained his ministrial job as minister of local government. Immediately he authorised the demolishing of the houses of people who got plots through UNIP mobilisation efforts.
So what is happening in CB is no surprise. Sata has allowed it to happen because those people no longer support PF and Sata. What Sata is doing is punishing them for not supporting him. Why did PF councillors give out those plots without following proper procedures?
Cases of cadres taking over land is not a new trend.Even in Lusaka almost a quarter of the new houses in Kabwata,Libala,Kamwala,Chelstone and other areas were allocated by the MMD councillors . A friend of mine had a very beautiful house demolished in Kabwata/Kamwala area because it was directly under a Zesco powerline.This friend of mine was also told that his land was illegal but he still went ahead and invested all his retrenchment package into it.This time he is renting a two rooms apartment in Chilenje.These cadres are just a problem.
Saulosi, it is like Sata blaming Zambians for voting for him. How can you blame those residents?
Do you know how hardworking people are for building such homes?
@Nostradamus
I know how expensive and demanding it is to build a house because i`m building one myself.For example i bought my piece of land from a traditional ruler, but for my own security i made sure that i went to the ministry of lands to make sure that my land is demarcated,documented and title deeds issued which is something these people never did.Now because of their carelessness and throwing caution to the wind they are homeless.They only have themselves to blame.
The problem with Zambian politicians is that they do not have principles; the law is the law and you will face the same problems that PF are facing if you are elected. If these people were swindled out of money by being illegaly allocated plots, they should report to the police; that is what the oposition should be supporting them to do instead of this drum beating and posturing. What is the humane way of making someone homeless? Is there a perfect season or weather for this?
Lets have a human face Ladies and gentlemen,We all know that its not easy to get title deeds in Zambia.Its done that deliberately,so that coruption is induced the awarding of title deeds.Therefore most poor pipo dont have the muscle to own land in their own country.Should then say that poor pipo should not own land in Urban areas.Do pipo in rural areas need title deeds ,if they do and they dont have title deeds should government demolish there houses.My qeustion is what was the result of the land audit and what recommendations were brought forward.Does the government have legal power to ligalise those plots at mindolo Kitwe,If it can not do that what human alternatives are there for government to use.Is resetling them not a good option?Looking at the fact that these pipo are Zambians .
This problem of selling plots illegally is quite rampant in Zambia. The best way of tackling this problem is to make selling of plots illegally a non-bailable offence and the minimum sentence if convicted should be 20 yrs. That way, we will have sanity in this area. Presently the laws are very weak in this area.
@Meme Teacher
Your suggestion is good but its over the top.
The way forward to avoid illegal structures mushrooming on illegally acquired land is to introduce planning permission for any structure to be erected. Through such measures the councils and ministry of land will no grant building permission to people intending to build on illegally acquired land. Toughen the planning and building regulations so that a prerequisite for applying for planning permission to build is title deed showing land ownership, without which no permission will be granted.
To make the system work better and fairly, land has to be allocated by government and demarcated . Then applications have to be invited from the poor who do not currently own a plot or house of their own at a fee of course.
The problem of cadres selling land to unsuspecting citizens is now widespread in this country. Slowly but surely, the breakdown of law and order is becoming the order of the day. Everyone knows how long it takes for one to build a house. How can council authorities watch while people are building, only to come and raze the structures two to three years down the line! Local Government should supervise the councils properly. Also the issue of putting people in positions they are ill qualified for due to nepotism is a huge contributing factor. Central Government should now swing into action and re-organize the councils so that professionalism takes root and reverts to the status we inherited from the colonialists. The alternative to this is headlong dive into a failed state.
@ Wanzelu, don’t just condemn our Republic President. So imwe ba UPND especially ka Kapita you will be allowing people to behave anyhow? These people knew that they settled there illegally.
Why can’t the people who were giving out these people plots be traced and punished for wasting poor people’s resources and taking advantage of the poor.
LT where is my article?? have you turned to be PF cadres??
Cadres are always a problem. In Lusaka, the houses between Kamwala South and Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company water works are all illegal. The land was given by UNIP, MMD, PF and UPND cadres. They actually shared blocks (sections). Council workers and LWSC also acquired their own portion near the water works which they allocate themselves or shared. Now I hear it has been ‘legalised’ We need decency in Zambia.
SORRY FOR THE VICTIMS OF PF PLOT THUGS
I KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO HAVE A HOUSE DEMOLISHED AFTER SPENDING THOUSANDS OF KWACHA. PF MUST A POLOGISE FOR HAVING LIED TO THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE. WE TOLD YOU THAT THIS PERSON YOU ARE CALLING MAN OF ACTION WILL LEAVE YOU BRUISED. AND PEOPLE THOUGHT WE WERE CHEATING. SEE NOW YOU HAVE NO HOMES , NO JOBS, NO FOOD ON THE TABLE, NO MEDICINES IN HOSPITALS. TRAVELLING MASSES BETWEEN CHINGOLA – KITWE ARE CONSTANTLY TROUBLED WHEN HIKING FORGETTING THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE LOST EMPLOYMENT AND THEY WANT TO SUSTAIN THEMSLVES TO USE THEIR VEHICLES TO RAISE SOMETHING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE BUT PF THUGS CONTINUE HARASSING THEM WITHOUT NOT KNOWING THEY ARE DECAMPAIGNING SATA AND PF. HON. KAMBWILI COME AND STOP THESE THUGS THE WAY YOU DID ON THE KITWE – NDOLA HIGHWAY.
My point is if refugees are given land to settle ander UN regurations,Why should Zambian Government resetle these Zambians.We have a right to shelter mind yu.
Illegality has to be stopped at some point. UPND is forgetting that most irregularities were perpetuated under different dispensations. It is even incumbent on those in PF who were in the MMD or UNIP managements to bring this nonsense to an end so we can have some semblance of order at least in some fundamental sectors such as land ownership. My family has been fighting settlers who keep encroaching on our land each time we leave it farrow!!! That is how useless Zedian citizens have become. Like flies! If you don’t swat they settle.
A coin has two sides. If the “squatters” were offered those plots in an illegal manner, the government needs to be commended for catching up with the squatters, however, the government has not caught up with the dealers hence they deserve to be condemned in no uncertain terms. They must catch up with the illegal land dealers and punish them like they have punished the buyers.
ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR AND ITS ONLY RIGHT TO DEMOLISH THEM AS THEY ARE A WASTE OF MONETARY RESOURCE TO TRY AND ACCOMMODATE THEM IN TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING. THIS MUST BE A DETERRENT TO WOULD BE ILLEGAL SETTLERS WHO DISOBEY THE LAWS FOR THE SAKE OF JUST HAVING IT THEIR WAY. HH IS JUST TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION TO MAKE POLITICAL CAPITAL OVER IT. LET’S HAVE SANITY IN ZAMBIA. LET’S OBEY OUR OWN LAWS. JUST LIKE WE OBEY AND RESPECT THE LAWS WHEN WE ARE ABROAD AND OVERSEAS.
“It is a well-known fact that Kitwe City Council and others on the Copperbelt have been controlled by PF for a very long time now. It is the PF cadres running these councils on the Copperbelt that have been illegally and corruptly allocating these plots to residents during daylight. It is treacherous for them to now go at midnight and start razing people’s homes while people are sleeping with their children,” Mr. Kapita said. Mr KAPITA YOUR ARGUMENT DOESN’T HOLD ANY WATER. WHETHER PF, UNIP, MMD OR GOD KNOW, CADRES SELLING PLOTS THERE’S NO WHERE IN COUNCIL BY-LAW (whatever you call them), WHERE POLITICAL CADRES HAVE BEEN EMPOWERED TO SELL COUNCIL LAND TO RESIDENTS. ONE IS SIMPLY BREAKING THE LAW BUYING FROM THEM.
WHAT I KNOW IS WE ZAMBIANS DON’T UNDERSTAND. On several occasions in S Africa Zambians have been instructed by border authorities to drive back to pick up litter they through out of their vehicles when driving back to Zambia. To make matters worse they are instructed to go back after driving hundreds of kilometres and they have reached the border between S Africa and, say, Zimbabwe. And they do this over and over again. They don’t learn. This is because they are used to lawlessness in Zambia.
“I have to make it clear here that UPND does not support illegality of occupying other people’s properties. That is our stance as a party…”
THIS MEANS YOU CAN DO THE SAME IF IN POWER IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE SITUATION. UWAUMA NAFYALA OMINA LIMO. PF, PLEASE SOLVE THIS MADNESS OF ILLEGAL LAND ALLOCATION ONCE AND FOR ALL. DON’T U-TURN. IT WILL BACK FIRE ON YOU. AND THE SAME UPND WILL BE TALKING IN OPPOSITE.
cadres have been going to privately owned plots and start dividing them without any approval from the owner and yet these cadres went scote free.
People…..zambia is a Christian nation why start living in our own home nation like slaves…?living like we are in Iraq.please PF do something
in bemba we say,USHUMFWA PATUNONO,NAPAFINGI TAKOMFWE.this might seem very small but people should know that wether rich or poor no one is above the law.being poor does nt give anyone an excuse to be a criminal,squatting or illegal settling is a crime anywhere in the world.i stayed in that area 10yrs ago and everyone knew that they were there illigally,my family moved outr after the first demolition threats were issued.this was way before pf cadres startted allocating plots.those settlers what they were doing was wrong but they still stayed knowing that there will be people who thrive on crime like Hakainde to speak for them.its good the gvt is in support because next time pipo will eat each other in the name of being poor and hakainde will supot it to gain political mileage.let them be
it is foolishness to ignore or rather pretend the things that have happened in Zambia for the past 50years. In this instance is it not general. knowledge that land in Zambia can be acquired in two ways. One source has always been through the ruling party’s cadres the engine behind most of our township and compounds. This route is mostly taken buy the poor and the illiterate who are unable to defeat the council’s bureacracy and corruption. This method of allocation of Plots has always been a campaign tool for every political party that has ruled this country, and this to say is synonymous to depriving development to areas in which the ruling party is unpopular. So please don’t just criticize because your bellies are full. Let us be sincere and show concern were it is needed.
THE pipo who’s houses were demolished in de CB did nt jst com 4rm de blues. Sam culprits out dere issued them land illegally & 2day pipo ar payn 4 dere ignorance. Diz culprits ar comfortably slipn in dere houses while de victims in Kitwe ar in the cold, wit 3 newly born babies. Zambians let’s awake 4rm slumber.