By CHUSA SICHONE –
LOCAL Government and Housing Minister Stephen Kampyongo is expected to meet Lusaka, Chibombo, Chongwe, Kafue and Shibuyunji councils to iron out their differences over establishment of joint cemeteries.
The meeting is aimed at ensuring that Chongwe, Kafue and Shibuyunji district councils assist the Lusaka City Council (LCC) with land for the establishment of cemeteries.
Lusaka Town Clerk Alex Mwansa told the Sunday Times recently that the LCC had discovered eight pieces of land in Chibombo, Chongwe, Kafue and Shibuyunji, which could be used as cemeteries, but that the response from those districts had been negative.
Mr Kampyongo said in an interview that Lusaka had run out of land and that was why he wanted the LCC to collaborate with neighbouring councils to address the cemetery space shortage.
“Even after my tour of LCC cemeteries in Lusaka recently, I did indicate that there was need for collaboration between the local authorities because wit is only a fact that we don’t have available land near Lusaka city, so there will be need to collaborate with other local authorities.
“I looked at the matter and I will be meeting the surrounding city authorities very soon, we have called for a meeting, out of that meeting, we are going to agree on the way forward,” he said.
The LCC owns and manages Chingwere, Chunga, Old and New Leopards Hill cemeteries, which are all full, resulting in the local authority resorting to using ‘in fills’ as spaces for burials.
The LCC has no land available within its boundaries for establishing cemeteries as all the land in the city has been built on.
Besides seeking intervention from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing on the availability of land in Chibombo, Chongwe, Kafue and Shibuyunji districts, the LCC also approached the Ministry of Lands, Environment and Natural Resources to help with possible acquisition of the said tracts of land.