One hundred and nine families (109)and several Government departments in itezhi-tezhi district have been evicted from the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO)houses and offices respectively.
This came to light today when the district called an urgent District Development Coordinating Committee meeting in the Council chamber today.
Among the evicted families include Government heads of departments who have opposed ZESCO’s decision to force them to inherit electricity and rental bills of former occupants.
Itezhi-tezhi District Education Board Secretary Mahuba Hazemba has complained that his property was thrown out from his house despite him being current on all rental and electricity bills
He said that a combined team of ZESCO eviction squad and State Police entered his house yesterday in his absence and threw and damaged some of his property.
“I am very embarrassed by the action of ZESCO to evict me from the house just because the former occupant of the house am occupying left a bill.” he said
Mr Hazemba said that what ZESCO has done is a violation of human rights by forcing people to inherit bills they found accumulated by former occupants.
He lamented that all his clothes are locked in his house and was unable to change or cook since yesterday.
“I am a sick person and I take my medicine every day but today L have not taken any medicine because my house is locked and some properties from the bedroom was damaged as it was thrown into a drainage and ditch.
Mr Hazemba disclosed that several heads of departments slept in their offices after being illegally evicted by ZESCO from their houses adding that the company had continued to evict tenants illegally despite the District Commissioner asking them to stop until all issues were resolved.
And the DDCC has resolved that ZESCO must stop the mass evictions immediately because it was illegal.
Mr frank Lubasi who is a member of the DDCC said in a meeting that the evictions by ZESCO were not being supported by a court order but by some instructions from the headquarters who were ignorant of the situation on the ground.
And victims of the evictions have threatened to sue ZESCO for defamation and for the damaged property.
They said that they have been paying for rentals and electricity bills and there was no law which provided for the inheritance of the former occupants ‘s bills by the current tenant.
They complained that what ZESCO was doing was inhumane and Government must intervene before the situation worsens.
The DDCC members have also resolved that Government should build institutional houses for its employees in the district or offer them loans to enable them construct their own houses to avert a possible occurence of what has transpired.
The DDCC has also resolved that Government must build their own office blocks as opposed to renting ZESCO houses as offices.
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The meeting further appealed to Government through the Southern Province Permanent Secretary to stop ZESCO from illegal eviction of tenants.
What the f%*k? Why do we still allow laws of the jungle to rule our country. Zesco has failed to provide reliable eletricity to the country so they resolt to harrasing defenceless citizens. Someone needs to get fired for this type of behaviour
Zesco you are good.Am sure the affected ministries and departments receive housing allowances.People must learn to honour their bills on time.This is a spirit that will build Zambia.Trust,accountabity and Responsibilty.
How do you move into a house/business premise that has unpaid bills? without even asking the previous tenants to settle there bills.
akaka basa.
Please, some sicknesses do not need a patient to miss taking his/her medicine. I hope Mr Hazemba will recurperate well after this otherwise ZESCO has to pay dearly.
This is a very serious case. I wish you are quick recovery Mr Hazemba.
As for the situation at hand, it is very unfortunate that things had to go to this extent. ZESCO do something immediately to restore normalcy.
There is no where in the world were people have to inherit Bills besides zambia. this is simple…if my father has a contract with the electricity company..and he happens to pass away..that contract is not binding on me. no way should i have to pay his bill unless im on that contract. also,if someone moves out of the a property without paying bills-IT IS THERE ACOUNT THAT HAS TO BE DEBITED NOT THE NEW TENANTS ACCOUNT. EVERY ONE HAS A DIFFERENT ACCOUNT TO EVERYONE ELSE. Zesco ought to sort other means of getting there money back..for example by not those with unpaid bills open new accounts elsewhere. Its that simple. ZESCO IS THE PROBLEM HERE, and not the tenants.
New Passports next month
The Issuance of new passports is expected to start next month.
Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, Susan Sikaneta said the government has already put into place necessary logistics such as equipment for the entire process which kick start’s in July.
She told ZNBC news that training and recruitment of staff who will mann the new office is expected to start this month end.
The Home Affairs Permanent Secretary noted that Zambia decided to join the international community by bringing in a new passport with sophisticated features that cannot be forged.
Is there any game today??
Zesco ingurube bakoka ilile imungu.Why punish the tenant over someones bills?Where were you for not collecting money from those people who stayed in your houses? Stop behaving like Children.
You guys sue Zesco they will lose the case.
instead of solving problems but we are creating more where are we going?
….IS IT JUST ME OR ZAMBIAN ARTICLES ARE EXTREMELY LONG AND REPETITIVE. Anyway its high time the GRZ ended the ZESCO Monopoly or is it the other way round…
#2Choma how can you say Zesco are doing good, because they cannot claim the money from previous tenants due to lack of organisation, how do you expect the present tenant to pay for current they haven’t even used, how absurd! you and Zesco have crossed your wires
#3Google. If you move in to a new property it is not your responsibility to start looking for previuos tenants and make them settle outstading dues, do guys analyse situations before you blog? unbelievable.