By JULIUS PHIRI –
OVER 100 residents of Namboard area in Chipata District on Wednesday
ran amok and stoned vehicles belonging to Cargill Zambia Cotton Company
over a land dispute.
Police who rushed to the scene, had a tough time dispersing the
unruly residents who wanted to be addressed by any senior Government
official on the matter.
Eastern Province Police Commissioner Grace Chipalila said yesterday
that no one was arrested in the fracas in which tyres were burnt by
uncompromising residents.
“No one has arrested so far as we are still investigating the issue,” Ms Chipalila said.
The confusion started after residents who have built houses on the
disputed land, believed to belong to the cotton company were issued
with eviction letters.
The letters stated that people staying around Cargill area should
vacate the premises by April 3, 2014, failure to which the company
would demolish their houses.
The irate residents burnt tyres just outside Cargill offices to block
vehicles from passing.
Some of the residents spoken to wondered how Cargill, which started
operating in the area in 2009 could ask them to leave the land when
they have been occupying the area since the early 80s.
When contacted for a comment, Cargill Zambia Human
Resource manager, Mwaka McGeachy could not give his company’s
position on the matter.
