Land encroachment will not be tolerated, says Chongwe mayor

JOHN KOMBE writes ILLEGAL land allocation has no room in Chongwe and as such illegal construction will not be allowed, Chongwe mayor Geoffrey Chumbwe has said. Mr. Chumbwe made the observation in an interview with The Sun. He was commenting on the council’s demolition of shops on account of  alleged encroachment of a road reserve in Silverest area of Ntandabale ward in Chongwe. The local authority demolished structures alleged to have been illegally constructed on a road reserve which has  sparked mixed reactions from some sections of society. The mayor stated that the local authority followed procedure in its action and as such it was within the law. He said that the council was prompted to take that route after severally warning  against the encroachment and that the illegal developers were served with notices, but continued building. The defiance, he said, was unfortunate and the council was left with no other  option, but to act before the road reserve was completely taken up. He regretted that some unscrupulous people claiming to be Silverest marketeers had resolved to defy the law. He disclosed that the marketeers in the area were not moved because they were not yet given an alternative trading place. He revealed that the council was looking for an alternative trading place for marketeers and as such they were operating from makeshift stands. He however said that it was the illegal shops that the council demolished. Mr. Chumbwe stressed that the local authority had a duty to ensure that encroachment on land reserves was stopped. The Sun