Demolish illegal Mutendere East structures, Charles Romel Banda orders LCC Town Clerk Alex Mwansa

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By Derrick Sinjela and Francis Mwaingaila

Local Government Minister Charles Romel Banda has directed the Lusaka City Council leadership through Town Clerk Alex Mwansa to demolish all residential housing structure and wall fences obstructing free-flow of water and causing life-threatening floods in Mtendere East of Munali Constituency.

During a fact finding mission witnessed by Mr. Mwansa, Chainda Ward 29 Councillor Dorcas Moyo Bwalya, LCC  Public Health Director, Mr. Edgar Mulwanda and LCC Spokesperson George Sichimba, Dr. Banda told journalists that on-going floods affecting the people in the area is man-made and not a natural phenomenon.

Dr. Banda, a journalist and broadcaster by profession, braved a difficult course in the process as authorities navigated to establish the real cause of the flooding and noted that people had overzealously built houses and wall fences on the drainage.

“Instead of the rainy water flowing through the community drainage, this flow is blocked by buildings, wall fences and concrete built by community members,” lamented Dr. Banda as he gave Lusaka City Council four days within which to restore order by demolishing illegally build structures.

 

Dr. Banda, a Patriotic Front (PF)  Kapoche Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) in the Eastern Province, regrettably recalled that an earlier decision Government to repatriate affected residents to safe areas in view of the continued floors, before demolishing the structures will now be overlooked on account of indiscriminate attitudes and flood ramifications.

“Government earlier decision to repatriate affected residents to safe areas will not materialise as some of the people affected are the reason why the floods are continuing. As deterrence, it will be better for some people to suffer the consequences of building on the drainage. I direct LCC to move in and ensure that all unplanned strictures are removed to allow water to move freely toward Ngwerere stream,” admonished Dr. Banda.

And a fearless Mutendere East resident Francis Chandamali informed Minister Banda that most if not all the people that had built on the drainage were Senior Government and PF party officials.

Mr. Chandamali regretted that for a long time now Government had not been told the truth because the people causing the problem were the ones assigned to inspect the area.

“It is better idea to demolish a few houses than subjecting hundreds of the people to suffer by leaving in a flooded environment due to the man-made negligence. I am happy that Minister Banda accepted to see for himself how some people have caused suffering through illegal structures,” said a delighted Chandamali.

And Patriotic Front Chainda Ward 29 Councillor Dorcas Moyo Bwalya hoped the instruction to the Lusaka City Council led by Lusaka Mayor Miles Bwalya Sampa and Town Clerk, Mr. Alex Mwansa will be observed to save many lives at risk.

Councilor Moyo concurred with Dr. Banda and Chandamali that the demolition of the houses built on drainages is long overdue.

“This is the time to correct a wrong which has been tolerated for long is now and I will closely monitor the development until everything is done. The problem of blocking the drainage in Mutendere has been around for long and to correct the problem is now,” worried Patriotic Front Chainda Ward 29 Councillor Dorcas Moyo Bwalya.