Government has suspended Siavonga District Council for alleged illegal land allocation involving senior officers including the council secretary.
Minister of Local Government, Housing, Early Child Education and Environmental Protection Nkandu Luo, who announced the development at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, said the suspension of the local authority is with immediate effect.
Prof Luo said she will not entertain petitions from anyone over the suspension of the council.
“Owing to reliable reports received by my ministry on alleged corrupt practices which include irregular allocation of plots, I have decided to invoke statutory provisions under the Local Government Act (Section 88) to suspend the council to allow for investigations.
“I have signed a statutory instrument suspending Siavonga District Council. The instrument will be published in the Government Gazette appropriately,” she said.
Prof Luo said her ministry has received numerous reports of council officials allocating themselves pieces of land meant to benefit the general public.
“It is a situation where the council advertises a piece of land but instead of allocating it to members of the public, they (council officials) share the land amongst themselves and later sell the pieces of land to members of the public,” she said.
Prof Luo said Southern Province local government administrator Alex Bwalya has been appointed to manage operations at the local authority.
She said Mr Bwalya will discharge all the functions at the council for an initial 90 days until investigations are concluded.
The minister said Government will not tolerate misconduct among council officials who are supposed to work hard to deliver improved services to the people.
Prof Luo said Government will remain focused to ensure that corruption in local authorities is fought and culprits are brought to book.
She said President Sata and his administration will not relent in fighting corruption and warned of stern action against perpetrators of the vice.
The minister said there will be no sacred cows in the anti-corruption crusade. She said abuse of office, laziness or direct theft of public resources will not be tolerated.
Prof Luo said the suspension of the Siavonga District Council should serve as a lesson to other local authorities and senior officers who engage in corrupt activities because the long arm of the law will catch up with them some day.
She said Government will not condone any departure from the accepted norms, practices and procedures in the management of local authorities.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Wow the government is feeling the resistance of removing Chirundu from SP!! Local people are already on alert with their pangas and spears,waiting to butcher any Government Official stepping into Siavonga.Dark clouds ahead!!
The problem is not even to do with financial issues at this council. PF is so bent on destroying Southern Province, look at who is appointed to work. A Bemba, what is going on kashi, what has the people of SP done to you, is it that they only thing which is right is to agree with Sata at all costs. Tongas we have no appology to make to these people, may be we must start thinking of self determination. All govt jobs are going to bemba speaking people even within our doorsteps, this is worrying, we need to be counted, our children will be at a loss unless we do something.
Hey Madam Luo you should as well come and sorth out Chingola Council. Y shld we strangle as Zambians to own a piece of land to just build a house.
Go on and suspend this councils.
Follow Peter Daka, He got plot No. L/1804/M in Ibex Hill that belonged to NISIR. Please, lock revoke the plot and give it back to NISIR. It is good that he is loosing the Musanzala by election
He has actually lost
Councils key to development hence a clean up necessary for govt programms implimentation.Govt should engage pipo on importance of province restructuring.Alot of lies from politicians.Be forward No I, this is not the 14th centuary we have rules.
That is why this woman cant keep a man. She has been dictated to by sata. Dr. Manda left her, Chief Nalubamba left her and now Elias Mpondela has ditched her. She now wants to vent anger on chirundu residents
How come the minister only notices the irregularities in the council after they oppose the moving of Chirundu from Southern Province?
This govt will bear the responsibility if there is damage to property and loss of life in these annexed regions. It is not too late now to go to the table and engage ALL the stakeholders. One Zambia, One Nation
is it possible to check out the lusaka council how they have operated now ant the last 5years? just asking. anyway douche kubeba!!!!!!!
The Tonga factor, no holier than thee. Just the same lot, Zambians and their way of life. Allocate land to themselves, still funds, misappropriate resources, hide in tribal sentiments, Oooo my God, same us.
Honestly, you think we are fools. Only time will tell. i Regreat my Vote i wasted on dont kubeba. Anyway all i wanted was chang i was equaly fed up of MMD. but its like i jumped from the fring pan into the fire. I dont blame my brother who have always voted on tribal lins beacuse PF is actualy proving to be so tribal. surely do you have to insult us by giving ass that Sampa who is an insult in our land. i have not head of any Tonga Provicial minister in Coperbelt. its not true that we are not able to produce our own Provincial minister.
@ Sothern Province REP are you really sure you voted for PF be honest???
Us who do business at Chirundu and Kariba borders know too well that minister Luo’s action is to avenge the local people’s refusal to back the annexing of Chirundu to Lusaka province. And which illegal land allocation is she yalking about when information coming from the Council is that she is the same person who illegally got a piece of land using one Council official who she quickly transfered before suspending the Council. Shame on Luo!!!