By CHATULA KAMPO –

THE local authority in Luanshya has embarked on a programme of repossessing disused and abandoned buildings in the trading and industrial areas in the district.

Luanshya Municipal council public relations manager Gideon Thole said in an interview that the council has started the process of repossessing the old and abandoned building in the industrial area, first and second class trading areas which are a nuisance and an eyesore.

Mr Thole said the Luanshya council had written to Government through the Commissioner of Lands seeking approval to start the re-entry process for the abandoned buildings which have been earmarked for repossession.

He said after the council started notifying the owners of abandoned buildings about its intention to repossess them, a number of them were now being rehabilitated and leased out.

“As at now we have less than ten abandoned buildings earmarked for re-entry of which some are now being contested by their owners,” Mr Thole said.

Meanwhile the Luanshya Municipal Council has this year set aside K1, 083,410 for the installation of street lights under its service provision programme.

Mr Thole said Government would also supplement the local authority by providing K500,000 for the installation of solar street lights in Lumumba and Buntungwa roads.

He said the council funded street lights installation was expected to be done on Roan-Mpatamatu, Luangwa, Ensa, Kopa, Ndola and Mulungushi roads.

Other roads to benefit from the project include East Drive, Fourteenth Street, Gardenia, Zaone, industrial, Lantana, streets in Ward 18 in Roan Township, streets in Mpatamatu Section 24 and Hibiscus Road among others.