Lands Minister Gladys Lundwe has warned people who are in the habit of allocating illegal land through the councils that they risk being prosecuted once they were found.
Ms. Lundwe said when he addressed councilors in Sinazongwe District during her tour of Land Development Fund (LDF) that Councils should educate people that were involved in illegal allocation of land to follow the right procedures.
She pointed out that Councils that failed to comply with the prescribed guidelines would result in the withdrawal of their agency to the Ministry of Lands.
The Minister observed that some councils were charging exorbitant fees to the applicants for land which included land application fee and service charge which is disadvantaging many Zambians.
“Therefore, my impression is that councils are selling land to applicants which should not be the case as agents of the Ministry,” Ms Lundwe said.
Ms. Lundwe expressed concern that councils were not servicing the land after collecting huge sums of money from applicants.
She disclosed that government through her ministry has disbursed 26 billion to 51 councils for the past four years for land development.
[pullquote]“Therefore, my impression is that councils are selling land to applicants which should not be the case as agents of the Ministry,” Ms Lundwe said.[/pullquote]
Ms. Lundwe said government values the LDF which is targeted at developing the country through councils by way of opening up virgin land for economic development.
She urged the councils benefiting from LDF to use them prudently for the benefit of Zambians to own land adding that councils that would misuse the funds will never benefit from it and individuals involved will be prosecuted.
Sinazongwe District Commissioner (DC) Oliver Pelete commended government for allocating K130 million for Land development to the district.
Mr. Pelete said the opening up new land for development would improve the tourism potential in the district since it was situated along lake kariba.
Sinazongwe District Council Chairperson Benard Kalata said the council would ensure that the money was put to good use for the benefit of people.
Chief Sinazongwe’s representative Louis Maanje said at the same function that Local people should be empowered in acquiring land because the current fees that the councils was charging were too high.
Mr. Maanje appealed to the Ministry of Land to find ways of assisting local people to acquire land at an affordable price.
Wow i didn`t know there is another Gladys as lands minister which reminds me of the previous Gladys Nyirongo who ended up messing up things in the same ministry.Hope this one will turn out to be more of a virtuous woman as she looks to be of a goal oriented character.:-?
#1, Mo time, It could also be the same Gladys but with a new hubby. :)>-
Is the man in the picture pregnant? May be thats a lady????
#3 lol…. uli walubuli umnobe ekwitefye ichibwali….:d