By MOFFAT CHAZINGWA –

THE land invaders that had strayed into the old cemetery in Chimwemwe Township in Kitwe have stopped their construction activities.
The old cemetery in Chimwemwe was early this year invaded by some unscrupulous individuals who started clearing tombstones paving way for digging of foundations in readiness for construction of houses.
An on-the-spot check then, revealed the grave site had been zoned into more than 200 residential plots.
A check yesterday by the Times around the old cemetery, located South East of Chimwemwe, found no construction activities taking place.
Some beacons that were placed as plot boundaries, however, were found still erected in some areas within the graveyard.
Some people talked to from the nearby houses said the cemetery invaders abandoned their construction activities soon after the Kitwe City Council (KCC) threatened them with arrest in May this year.
Grace Chansa said the developers had not been seen since May.
“They used to come and gather here at the cemetery in large numbers every morning but they have now stopped coming ever since the council warned that they will arrest all those constructing the houses,” she said.
Chimwemwe ward councillor Charles Kabwita said in an interview  that order had now been restored at the old cemetery.
“We told them anyone that was going to go against the council order was going to be arrested and prosecuted and that is how they all halted the illegal construction activities,” Mr Kabwita said.