By NAKUBIANA MUMBUNA –

CONFUSION at the Ministry of Lands has led to a Lusaka woman losing her property and land on which she had invested for over 12 years.

Regina Limula, 64, currently squatting with her children in Northmead, has lost her two-bedroom house and an incomplete double storey house to another woman who has since taken over her house and continued building on her double storey structure.

The woman, who is said to be the owner with title number L9113, has refused to vacate the plot and has instead continued building from where Ms Limula had ended.

Ms Limula, who was attached to the United Nations (UN) Rwanda Tribunal at the time the confusion started, said that she had title to plot L9114 from the Ministry of Lands situated in Makeni but that after she had invested on the plot, she was informed that she had built on plot number L9113.

Ms Limula said when she inquired about plot number L9114 she was informed that there was a re-entry on the plot of which she was not informed and that it had been allocated to someone else.

She, however, said that when she approached the Commissioner of Lands over the matter, he expressed surprise and revealed that there was actually no re-entry on her plot but that it was plot L9115 next to hers.

“Although I was informed that I had built on plot number L9113 the map shows that I have actually built on plot L9114 to which I have title,” Ms Limula said.

“It was plot number L9115 of Makeni which was next to mine that was re-entered but I was surprised when I was informed that it was my plot that was re-entered.”

Ms Limula said the purported owner of the plot had title for plot L9113 and not L9114, adding there was another person with title on plot number L9114.

Ms Limula acquired title to her land in 1999.

When contacted for a comment, Commissioner of Lands Barnaby Mulenga said it was difficult to comment. The High Court had earlier passed judgment and Ms Limula lost the case.