By CHILA NAMAIKO –
GOVERNMENT has warned that it will suspend more local authorities and arrest cadres involved in the illegal sale of land, which is frustrating its efforts to foster development.
Local Government and Housing Minister Stephen Kampyongo told Parliament yesterday that Government would not lapse over the fight against illegal land allocation.
Mr Kampyongo said in a ministerial statement that there would be no sacred cows in the fight against corruption, abuse of office, laziness and theft of public resources.
“I wish to reiterate that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government will not tolerate any misconduct from either the councillors or council officers in the service delivery process. It is this type of illegality and abuse of office that has over the years led to the poor performance of  local authorities,” he said.
Mr Kampyongo recently suspended the local authorities of Kitwe, Livingstone, and Ndola, to pave way for investigations over illegal allocations of land.
He told the House that the three city councils were supposed to lead by example not only by conduct of councilors and officers, but in service delivery and adherence to laid down procedures on land allocations.
The three local Government administrators appointed for 90 days to be in charge of the councils would be submitting progress reports on investigations to Mr Kampyongo on monthly basis while awaiting for recommendations on perpetrators.
He called on councilors and council officers to comply with provisions of the law on the running affairs of local authorities to avoid being in conflict with the law.
The minister said, regardless of political affiliations, police would arrest cadres involved in illegal land allocation.
He was responding to United Party for National Development (UPND) Mazabuka Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo who wanted know if Government would protect PF cadres involved in the illegal sale of land.