State to repossess idle land

State to repossess idle land
By ALEX NJOVU

GOVERNMENT has warned that it will repossess land that has not been developed at Kasumbalesa border post in Chililabombwe. Government was concerned that most people who were allocated land at the border post had allegedly not developed it.

Copperbelt Permanent Secretary, Jennifer Musonda, said in an interview on Thursday in Ndola that government was disappointed that people who had been allocated land were allegedly not developing it. “ We are going to recommend to the Ministry of Lands so that we can repossess the land that has not yet been developed. It is unfortunate that the infrastructure on the Zambian side is poor. Had these people developed their land, Kasumbalesa would have not been the same,” Mrs Musonda said.

She said the land would be given to serious developers. “ We are interested in development and serious developers. We are going to repossess the land. I can assure them that the land would be repossessed. Since we allocated land to them, almost two years ago, nothing whatsoever has taken place in terms of development,” Mrs Musonda said.

She expressed displeasure at the lack of development and dilapidated infrastructure at Kasumbalesa border post on the Zambian side. Mrs Musonda said the area was under developed compared to the area in Democratic Republic of Congo’s side. Mrs Musonda said the existing infrastructure was in a poor state.

She called on the Chililabombwe district development coordinating committee (DDCC) to work towards developing the area. “ I am urging the DDCC to work towards developing the area,” she said. She, however, said plans were under way to develop the border. “Plans are underway by the government to construct modern infrastructure at the border,” she said