Maravi

Kunda blames Kuku floods on poor planning

Kunda blames Kuku floods on poor planning
By Agness Changala
Wed 24 Mar. 2010, 04:00 CAT

VICE-President George Kunda on Monday said the occurrence of floods in Kuku compound and other parts of Lusaka are as a result of poor planning.

Speaking after he visited the internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have been relocated to the grounds of the Independence Stadium following floods in most compounds in Lusaka, Vice-President Kunda challenged the council to take action immediately to ensure that people did not construct their houses in illegal settlements.

“These floods are occurring because of the problem of poor planning and LCC must take action immediately and ensure that people don’t construct such structures,” he said.

Vice-President Kunda said the problem of floods could not be avoided because most people had built their houses in quarries. He said the problem of floods in such areas was perennial and a long-term solution was needed.

Vice-President Kunda said IDPs would not return to their homes because after his visit to the flooded areas, he discovered that most houses were water-logged and would not last for a long time.

He said apart from Lusaka, many other parts of the country were affected by floods and his office would take the matter to Cabinet.

“My office will go to Cabinet to discuss and decide on the next course of action because bringing our people here is a temporal measure,” Vice-President Kunda said.

He said he visited the camp to see how people who had been relocated were living at the site.

Vice-President Kunda, who said he was happy that the conditions at the site were conducive, thanked all people and organisations who were involved in providing humanitarian assistance to the victims.

And most of the victims talked to, said they did not want to return to their homes because they had realised that the problem was permanent.

They asked the government to find them alternative land and some funds to enable them build new houses.

There are about 608 families camped at the temporary site and are expected to leave by July 1, 2010.

Lusaka district commissioner Christah Kalulu said the site still had land to occupy 60 to 80 more tents.

Kalulu said the army was also mobilising itself to put kitchens, water tanks and other necessities in readiness for the other families to be relocated.

Labels: FLOODS, GEORGE KUNDA, IDPs

posted by MrK @ 2:48 PM