Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament for Bwana Mkubwa Constituency Dr. Jonas Chanda says the foreign investor Golden Lay Company, who bought 3,000 hectares of land in Chichele area in Ndola under questionable circumstances, has refused to share part of the land with over 1,000 displaced residents. The land was formerly owned by the defunct parastatal company Dairy Produce Board under UNIP and MMD governments.
Dr Chanda was speaking when he addressed over 1,000 displaced Chichele residents on the meeting he had earlier held with Golden Lay Company owner Mr Fletcher, an immigrant from Australia. He disclosed that in his frank discussions with Mr Fletcher, he made a proposal to him to consider parting away with part of the 3,000 hectares of land on humanitarian grounds so that displaced individuals could be resettled.
The Lawmaker says in the meeting Mr Fletcher insisted that he is the legal owner of the land as the Ndola High Court had ruled in his favour. This is despite the ‘questionable circumstances’ under which the original land title showing 300 hectares was converted to the new title of 3,000 hectares when a Mr Mutambo, former caretaker of the farm, sold the land to Golden Lay and left the country to live in the UK.
However, Dr Chanda says he advised Mr Fletcher that the land dispute was not merely a legal issue, but also a moral and political matter. He further informed the meeting that since he has already brought the matter to the attention of Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Hon Jean Kapata, he will now be writing to Republican Vice President Mrs Inonge Wina requesting for government’s intervention in the matter.
Meanwhile, the displaced Chichele residents have bitterly complained about their suffering following their displacement from land as it has been a means of livelihood for them through subsistence small-scale farming. They further questioned why foreigners are dispossessing Zambians of their land, and appealed to the MP and Republican President His Excellency Mr Edgar Lungu to urgently intervene in the matter.
In response, Dr Chanda reassured the displaced people that the PF government was pro-poor as the Party Manifesto protects poor people from being displaced from land easily. He also says the reason the PF government is in the process of finalising the National Land Policy, the first for Zambia since 1964, is to protect poor people in rural and urban areas, and to ensure an orderly land administration and management system which contributes to sustainable economic development.
As professor Akoth-Ogendo used to say and Professor Lumumba say is that Land is the last colonial question…
Where a country starts seeing its citizens displaced by foreigners in their own country entails a loss of human dignity.
We fought for freedom and rights to our own land. This is now officially being reversed by descendants of a citizenry that fought for land and freedom … only because monies are being exchanged under the table.
History indeed repeats itself… soon our children’s children will start fighting for freedom and land in their own country like our forefathers fought for us.
Barotseland has not sold a single 1m×1m plot to any Chinese, Lebanese or any foreigner. That’s why Lozis are the most intelligent tribe.
It’s PF00lishness to auction your country to Chinese, Lebanese, Boers & other foreigners whilst other nations e.g. Zimbabwe, South Africa are busy reversing the slavery/colonial anormally at a dear price.
Not this Dr Chanda again…very dull chap who has no knowledge of land issues, he thinks land is cake you just share…he is trying to politicize this issues and gang up against this investor….I feel for this guy as they will put him down. I remember they used to one white man who owned that land behind NRDC all the way to Ibex hill to…some cadres were after that land so they took him out.
Who cares about land. Let the displaced people go to school.
I got my PhD why can’t they ?
I went to Chilenje, Libala and UTH. Oh my goodness me what a dirty old place !
Zambians are dirty Yuck! I felt like throwing up.
Nick thinks I overreacted but it disgusted me.
He seems to be enjoying it here and I don’t.
Take me home to
Scotland.
Thanks
BB2014,2016
This is so wrong! Government don’t seem to care for it’s own people.. God almighty has noted all the wrongs by past present and future governments. They must repent and ask for forgiveness.
Where is that copperbelt Minister from Chongwe who is jealous of Lusambo?
Bowman vs Fletcher meeting, who can win?
Sunday Chanda’brother vs Fletcher who can win?
This Chanda is not being sincere to these people. He’s well aware that former employees of the farm where compensated. These 1000 families where mainly squatters with no documentation. If indeed it’s a humanitarian issue divide YOUR land up for them. That was an already established farm on title not traditional land, totally different case. Ba Doctor trying to win votes on poor ignorant people.
I feel for these poor people but we’ve gotta respect court decisions and private property though. Rule of law should exactly mean rule of law .
I agree.
But if this land was somehow increased in size illegally, then this has to be addressed.
Handling of stolen goods is a crime.
Exactly you can not use that immigrant card when it suits you and ask him to share his land on humanitarian grounds …really laughable!!
Totally agree.
Either they leave alone that immigrant alone or negotiate under legal terms for a buy back under market value. But the idea that he share the land for moral and political reason is so st.u.pid
@indigoTyrol the court heard the case and never found any legal grounds of reversing the sale on illegal land increase.
Zambians love to be cheated hence marking this down this posts backing legal side of the investor…they love to be told to pray and white Jesus will deliver when he comes back from heaven on a white horse.
When it comes to serving the interests of Zambians, the Minister hides behind legal provisions. Jean Kapata can cancel this sale unless there was collusion by the Ministry to alter the extent of the land that Fletcher bought. It’s heartbreaking to see Zambians despair like this
The next headline will be – The Chinese Government has refused to share Zambia with its citizens! Fili uko tuleya!
Why should they share because of your ignorance and docility…busy giving them primeland like NRDC and Twin palm in exchange for flats for corrupt politicians and their children.
Sad reading this takes me to the constitution it should clearly ready how much a foreigner should to own a certain land,with proper plan and time limit,up to a certain number of hectares.
What does the land policy say about it.
The whole story raises a lot of questions: how does a purchase of 300 hectares become 3000 hectares on the title deeds? We are not even told exactly what type of investment Golden Lay is and whether or not it is vital to that area. If not, government definately has the responsibility to see that the displaced residents are properly resettled in the same area or at least compensated.
Australia itself, which is 100 times bigger than Zambia with more than 7,500 000 Km² has some of the strictest land ownership laws in the world including a direct ban on foreign ownership, so why can’t we impose similar laws in favour of our citizens?
LUCHI at work…
I was wondering what doctorate this Jonas Kamima Chanda has…only to find out he is a medical doctor, no wonder he is making noise without no legal backing; those 1000 displaced workers have no title to that land and sharing with is also a security risk especially with that many people doing nothing.
Am sure u havent bn following this issue,the former farm manager claimed he was Not paid his benefits, but he claimed govt gave him, 2700 hectares as his benefits, so when the investor bought the 300H,he sold him his piece of land and the title was issued with a 3000 hec. But according to inside source, govt gave the 2700 hec to all the former workers of dairy produce to share equally, and since the former farm manager knew all his workmates he was the right person to oversee the distribution.but he crooked them and run away to Uk.The best is to cancel the title and give these affected citizens,this would send a strong signal to the chinese and other foreign to respect us.But lungu has No courage to do such.
So why is dull Chanda making proposes and not take it to court …you can not make assumptions regarding land issues.
Planzo so you know better than the court ?That’s total dullness on your part bcoz the court heard the case and ruled in favour of the investor.
I wish it was that easy. Just add a 0 on a 300 hector title and boom! I now own 3000 hectares. Chanda knows the truth but is gaining political mileage on poor ignorant people. Hence his change of tone. First it was give back the land! now it’s humanitarian or moral issue.
“Dr Chanda was speaking when he addressed over 1,000 displaced Chichele residents on the meeting he had earlier held with Golden Lay Company owner Mr Fletcher, an immigrant from Australia. He disclosed that in his frank discussions with Mr Fletcher, he made a proposal to him to consider parting away with part of the 3,000 hectares of land on humanitarian grounds so that displaced individuals could be resettled.”
Really laughable….Zambians have no concept of land issues no wonder they sell it like fish at a roadside…if you want this land go to this man with your Minister of Finance not humanitarian grounds talk.
they ve sold all the land to the foreigners????????????????????????????
Very important question, who is selling the land along chingola and ndola dual courage way on the copperbelt belonging to copperbelt forest company
Blame the crooked officials who sold that land to the Immigrant. You take his money and now you are asking him to consider this as ” a moral and political matter”?
Ni ma labbish chabe ayo, don’t demonize the poor immigrant blame your corrupt morals and politicians who sold that land.
Why are you not considering “buying back” that land instead of you trying to manipulate that guy on moral and political reasons? Do you want him to give a portion of it for free?
Zambians want him to give them free land as if he got it with free money…he knows how valuable land is…which us fooools take for granted..really laughable …just pay for the land or negotiate a price ..
In Deuteronomy 28vs 43 the Bible says…
“Foreigners who live in your land will gain more and more power, while your gradually loose yours”..so to me this is not new no wonder our government has reached to the extent of dressing foreigners in ZP uniforms..
Even a minister nor the vice president can overturn a court ruling. If the court found him to be the rightful owner then so be it. Let those people just be given another piece of land.
Nawishiba kamu Shota ulikali fontini nangu walipita ku sukulu.You are not the first one to stay naba sungu or will be the last one to stay naba sungu.Naifwe twikala naba sungu uko kwine wikala But we do not despise our roots.What is so special naba sungu.Wileka tulande ifingi wekanangwa we.Be proud of your ancestral roots.Behave iwee
When one buys a stolen item the buyer and the seller are all nubbed for conniving. Dr Chanda you said the transaction was questionnable, what is the police doing let alone the ministry of land? What is wrong with our polical system in this country? Everyday we want to be reminded of things that we know. This inertia will backfire oneday. Dont take people for a ride. Remember people are learning and are slowly opening their eyes that you will fail shut down.
This farm manager is a serious crook, to begin with he used to lease portions of the farm to poor subsistence farmers from Ndola and when he sold the farm he tricked the same farmers into contributing money for him so he can represent the in court and just disappeared with their money
I do not care how this white man got the land, to me it just reflects how dull Zambians are….sure you are beginning for your own land after you gave it away any your own people are cry….
This is stupid…
Zambians worship foreigners. Muzungu ani konde mentality. Be careful what you wish for…..Welcome to Ba Bwato..more money in your pocket my foot. When people advise you otherwise, you do not want to listen. Time to reap what you sowed. Zambians never learn. Sata was part of MMD plunderers that brought misery and poverty to the masses. This is what happens when fools and illiterate masses are allowed to vote.
Vote wisely next time. HH and GBM are no different as they have surrounded themselves with the same thieves..masebo, nevers mumba fake thieving preacher, bashinono, kachingwe major waku chipoto zns, william banda! you want real change then vote otherwise..not PF of course. Children of lesser God …PLO
Today it’s Fletcher, tomorrow it’s YOU. Flether legally bought that land as proved in the high court. Bona fide former workers of DPB Farm were compensated. These guys are squatters and Dr Chanda knows this hence his plea for moral and political consideration! There are other farmers (including Zambians) around this area should they also be subjected to Fletcher’s fate for political expedience?