By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –
. KAMPYONGO
LOCAL Government and Housing Minister Stephen Kampyongo has suspended three local authorities to pave the way for investigations into alleged cases of illegal land allocation.
The local authorities are Livingstone, Ndola and Kitwe City councils.
Mr Kampyongo said at a Press briefing yesterday that his visit to some local authorities revealed rampant illegal land allocation which had resulted in members of the public losing confidence in them.
He said the Government could not allow such conduct to continue unabated because the three cities were supposed to lead by good example in service delivery and adherence to laid-down procedures in land allocation.
“In line with Section 88 of the Local Government Act Cap 281 of the Laws of Zambia, I have decided to suspend Livingstone, Ndola and Kitwe City councils to pave way for investigations into illegal land allocation,” Mr Kampyongo said.
The minister has since appointed Chazya Musukuma, a public officer, to be the local government administrator for Ndola and Kitwe City councils, while Charlston Hamulyata will be local government administrator for Livingstone City Council.
The suspension is for the initial period of 90 days and the two administrators will discharge all the functions of the councils until such a time when investigations are concluded.
In accordance with the law, the minister will sign Statutory Instruments suspending the city councils and appointing the local administrators of the three councils.
“Accordingly, the Statutory Instruments will be published in the Government Gazette,” Mr Kampyongo said.
He said the Government would not tolerate any misconduct from councillors or council officers in the process of service delivery.
He said it was that type of illegality and abuse of office that had over the years led to the poor performance of the local authorities.
“I want to urge all councils and council officers, without exception, that the PF Government will not lapse over the fight of illegal land allocation,” he said.
