Contravention of town planning regulations
By Editor
Mon 15 July 2013, 14:00 CAT
A responsible and respectful use of the environment is an urgent duty for all of us today. Therefore, we must all collaborate in the care for the environment. Individuals and institutions must feel committed to protect the environment. We must all show respect for the integrity of creation.
The environment must be preserved, resources must not be used wastefully. The moral character of development cannot exclude respect for the beings which constitute the true natural world.
It is extremely worrying that in our efforts to develop our country, we are ignoring the need to preserve the environment. The letter by environmental advocate Kunda Chimambo to President Michael Sata raises a number of issues that cannot be ignored. We may not be in a position to ascertain the correctness of his claims concerning the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone not having had an environmental impact assessment and that the project threatens to contaminate the source of underground water located in the area. But we share Chimambo's concerns about poor town planning and enforcement. Today it seems in Zambia one can put up anything anywhere they want it to be as long as they have the money to buy the land concerned. Dambos that used to be reserved for water collection have disappeared, residential houses and shopping malls have been built on them. Water channels have been blocked, causing floods here and there. Some water sources have been destroyed by construction, drying up whole areas. Parks that were reserved with trees and other plants are being destroyed or have been destroyed, shopping malls are being built on them. Some of them are very close to streams, and these are being polluted in all sorts of ways. Why should we exchange parks for shopping malls as if we have run out of space where such developments can take place?
Of course, we know that in this country people with money insist to build whatever they want wherever they want it and are allowed to do so. Today, even University of Zambia land is being turned over to those who want to construct shopping malls just next to another shopping mall. Is this the best way to utilise that land? If the University of Zambia land is being used for shopping malls, where are research institutes going to be located? In the shopping malls? Yes, we do appreciate the challenges of funding, the need to raise money, but this is certainly not the best way to raise money. There is very little money that is going to come out of that destruction of university land. But again, those who wanted to use that land in that manner have the money and with their deep pockets, nothing is impossible. What will the University of Zambia look like in 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 years with all these things they are doing to its land? We seem to care little about the future. The present seems to owe us everything and the future nothing.
This may not seem to be much of a problem today. But the future generation will pay highly for all this destruction of the ecosystem. While it is true that we have been given the created world in all its richness and diversity, creation is not ours to do with it as we choose. We show our respect for the Creator by the way in which we relate to all that God has created, the things of which the Book of Genesis says: "God saw that they were good…"
We are called to a stewardship which we have to exercise with due reverence and responsibility. Our economic activity must respect the inherent goodness, indeed, the holiness, of the created world. Activities which result in ecological destruction or which unduly deplete natural resources are not only an abuse of what has been given to us, but a denial of that gift to others, especially to future generations.
We think that the idea of the future world is the most important and most noble idea that a good citizen of this world can harbour. Good people have always fought for the future. To fight for the future, however, does not mean to avoid doing every day what must be done for the present. These two ideas must not be confused.
It is possible for our country to devote a great part of its efforts to that struggle for the future, to that struggle against the destruction of the environment that is crushing us all. It is not a struggle against development, but a struggle for a more humane, responsible and fair development.
The environment is the living space we share with plants, trees and rocks, rivers and lakes. The integrity of creation must be respected in all human activities or we have no future.
Good citizenship demands us to do what Chimambo is doing; it demands that we give ourselves to the task of restoring the beauty and harmony of God's creation. Our country is a gift from God and we must develop it for the good and welfare of all its people.
Ownership to a piece of land does not entitle us to deal with that land as we please. There should be controls from the civic authorities in the interest of the common good. Ownership is therefore really a stewardship of property given by God to owners for the benefit of all.
The protection of the environment must be a serious concern for our wellbeing. God's creation is a precious gift for all, both those of us alive today and the future generations.
"The earth is for the Lord and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it, for He has founded it upon the seas and established it on rivers" (Ps 24:1).
The rampant contravention and flouting of town and city planning regulations must be put to an end. This anarchy and irresponsibility cannot be allowed to continue if we value the future of our people and our country. Whatever needs to be demolished, because of its illegality, should be demolished in the interest of the environment.
Labels: KUNDA CHIMAMBO, TOWN PLANNING
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Government asks Japan to help develop City of Lusaka
Thursday, April 16, 2009, 15:26
Government has asked the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to help implement the Lusaka city master plan, which is aimed at urban development for the greater city of Lusaka under the vision 2030.
Lusaka City Council Director of Engineering Services, Bonwell Lwanga disclosed this during a press briefing in Lusaka today saying the local authority was now waiting for response from JICA.
Mr. Lwanga said under the master plan, the council will embark on water and sanitation, public transport and infrastructure and improved environment projects.
He said the three projects were part of the urban development for the greater city of Lusaka, which would among other things reduce traffic, decongest the city and developing other less developed areas within the city.
Mr. Lwanga said the projects will also include developing the surrounding districts of Lusaka such as Chibombo, Kafue, and Chongwe.
He said US$ 45 million will be required for the first phase of the project that will involve the construction of inner ring roads in Lusaka.
The Lusaka City Council (LCC) says the environmental assessment of the Lusaka master plan might start in June this year and the implementation will start immediately the assessment is completed.
ZANIS/GP/KSH/ENDS
Labels: CONSTRUCTION, JAPAN, LCC, TOWN PLANNING
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The Colonial Legacy of Town Planning in Zambiaby
A paper
THE COLONIAL LEGACY OF TOWN PLANNING IN ZAMBIA
Paper to the South African Planning Institution International Conference on ‘Planning Africa 2002’, 18 – 20 September 2002, Durban, South Africa
Chalo Mwimba
1
Zambia is a highly urbanized country in sub-Saharan Africa, apart from South Africa. A year before independence in 1963, only 21 per cent of the Zambians were living in urban areas. The proportion had more than doubled to 43 per cent in 1980 (Rakodi 1990: 144) reducing to 39.4 per cent in 1990 (CSO, 1995: 64)
2
. Being such an urbanized country, Zambia needs a town planning system that is responsive and can meet challenges of urbanization.
Labels: TOWN PLANNING
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Masebo blames councils for unplanned buildings
By Mutale Kapekele in Livingstone
Saturday September 01, 2007 [04:00]
Local government minister Sylvia Masebo has said councils are to blame for the substandard and unplanned buildings in cities. Speaking when she officiated at the opening of the Secretarial Peak Performance workshop in Livingstone, Masebo said some councils did nothing to stop people from building in unplanned areas.
"Sometimes councils create problems. They see unplanned buildings coming up and just sit back and watch," she said. "That smells of corruption. It means that someone somewhere was given something to give a go ahead to the building."
Masebo said her condemning illegal structures and the 'Make Zambia Clean' campaign had made her unpopular.
"When we demolish those structures, people start asking if I have a heart or children," she said. "I have become the most unpopular minister but I don't mind."
Asked if it was possible to close Soweto market for the purpose of cleaning it, Masebo said if she did that people would call for her resignation.
"It is difficult to move people. If I say close Soweto, people will go to State House to have me fired," she said. "But that is a good idea and I will think about it. Maybe we can close Soweto for a few days."
Earlier, Masebo said secretaries should cultivate qualities that instil confidence and warm environments in their organisations as they were the first contacts with clients.
She challenged the secretaries to look their best at all times and to ensure that their workplaces and homes were clean.
"Let us begin with the home. We should provide a clean environment for our children," she said. "Money or lack of it should not be an issue because one can look smart with just minimum effort."
Masebo also praised the Southern African Management Institute (SAMI) for including the 'Make Zambia Clean and Healthy' campaign in their courses.
"This is encouraging as it shows that SAMI supports government policies that are intended to create a better Zambia for all of us," she said.
And SAMI representative Professor Muyunda Mwanalushi said Zambians required discipline to clean the nation and to turn the economy around. He said Zambia should learn from the Japanese who had adopted the ancient culture of upholding cleanliness which he said helped people to be more productive.
"A clean and healthy environment helps you to think well," Prof Mwanalushi said. "Japan is an economical giant today because of their clean environment." Prof Mwanalushi also presented 100 blankets to Masebo.
Labels: COUNCILS, SYLVIA MASEBO, TOWN PLANNING
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Kalulushi town clerk warns illegal developers
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Monday August 27, 2007 [04:00]
KALULUSHI town clerk Maxwell Kabanda has warned all developers who have no planning permission from the council that they risk their buildings being destroyed by the council if they do not pull them down by next month. Kabanda said there was need to ensure that proposed developments conform to the relevant building legislation.
“It is hereby notified for information of property owners and prospective developers that Section 22 of the local government Act CAP 281 of the Laws of Zambia makes it mandatory for every developer to obtain permission from the Planning Authority (council) for any development and sub division of land,” he said.
He said for them to maintain a clean and healthy environment and consequently maintain the aesthetic beauty of their town, there was need to ensure that proposed developments conform to the relevant building legislation.
Kabanda said inherent in the challenges posed by the districts economic growth was a requirement for planning at a level capable of delivering complex development programmes especially in the ever expanding urban areas like the Copperbelt and within competing financial limitations.
“The challenge we face in our towns is of illegal structures which have emerged a situation which has made our cities look unpleasant,” he said.
He said as a district, they were poised and better placed to attract the much-needed investment by capitalising on the challenges of the City of Kitwe, which was slowly running out of land.
“We therefore should avoid slums in our township and ensure that we plan our town properly because if we fail to plan, we shall actually be planning to fail,” said Kabanda.
Labels: TOWN PLANNING
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