Maravi

Bailiffs burn houses in Mazabuka

Bailiffs burn houses in Mazabuka
By Henry Chibulu in Mazabuka
Monday June 16, 2008 [04:00]

SEVERAL families in chieftainess Mwenda's area of Mazabuka have been left homeless after their houses were burnt by Court Bailiffs following a High Court order to evict them from a disputed farmland. Household property and foodstuffs were burnt to ashes by the uncompromising bailiffs who were accompanied by armed police officers.

Chieftainess Mwenda, who confirmed the development to ZANIS in Mazabuka yesterday, said a total of 12 families were affected in Upper Kaleya area following an order by the Lusaka High Court to evict the families from the disputed farmland covering 103 hectares.

She said the affected families who had been spending nights in the cold have since been offered temporary accommodation by the local Seventh Day Adventist church.
Chieftainess Mwenda said she was particularly disappointed with the Court Bailiffs and Police for their failure to brief her before executing the order on traditional land.
She said she would repossess the disputed land from the plaintiff who is a Lusaka resident to prove that she was in charge of customary land.

"As far as am concerned, I did not allocate land to the person who took the matter to court and as such I will repossess it and re-allocate it to local people who need land for agriculture purpose," she said.

Chieftainess Mwenda called on the Office of the Vice-President to help the affected families with tents to enable them erect shelters.

However, Mazabuka District commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba said his office would work closely with chieftainess Mwenda in finding alternative land for the affected families to be resettled.

Labels: CHIEFS, CHIEFTAINESS MWENDA, SQUATTERS

posted by MrK @ 12:23 AM