REAL estate is now a lucrative business in Zambia as evidenced by the number of construction activities taking place all over the country.
Property ranging from housing units, shopping malls and complexes, filling stations and other infrastructure are mushrooming in nearly all the parts of Zambia.
This is a good development, more so that the country has been independent for 50 years and its citizens should enjoy the luxury of having access to quality infrastructure.
However, there are concerns being raised regarding the placement of these structures, especially those on the outskirts of town.
Recently, this platform undertook a survey of Ndola to ascertain structures that in the opinion of this column have been built in “unsuitable” areas – these are unplanned buildings.
For instance, along the Ndola-Kabwe Road in Bwana Mukubwa area, a structure that appears to be a mosque is being constructed adjacent to Lake Petroleum filling station and a railway line.
In as much as there is scramble for land, this platform feels that the local authority should have apportioned a more “ideal” spot for the
construction the mosque.
Further, a few metres north before the Zambezi Portland turnoff, is a railway storehouse being built by Bridge Shipping Zambia Limited just
close to the rail line.
Bride Shipping is involved in the shipment of copper products by rail and the storage facility they are constructing in Bwana Mukubwa is necessary for the loading and off-loading of goods.
The two scenarios are contrasting in that the project by Bridge Shipping is relevant as such facility needs to be closer to the railway line.
On the other hand, the mosque has not been positioned ideally as many agree that a ‘sacred’ building should be located in places further
away from places engulfed by heavy industrial activities.
Ndola Town Clerk Ernest Sumani, however, said that the local authority never gave out land for the mosque being constructed near the filling
station.
Mr Sumani said the directorate of planning in the Ndola City Council (NCC) allocated the plot for a filling station but the owner decided
to use a portion for the construction of the mosque.
The NCC has since issued an ultimatum for the owner to stop constructing that structure as the activity is contrary to town planning regulations.
This platform commends the NCC for the firm stance because buildings are categorised into segments such as commercial, residential and
industrial.
Hence, to avoid mishaps, councils should implement effective monitoring measures that will ensure adherence to building and construction
regulations.
In areas like Chipulukusu, you have taverns and churches within the same vicinity and this does not augur well for law and order.
Lusaka may be a good example or, in the view of some, of a city whose construction was poorly planned as there are compounds within the vicinity of the town centre.
Why have Chibolya Township, for instance, in the heart of the city or a structure such as the National Heroes Stadium in its current position?
Those trading around the facility have now been asked to move because it has become evident that such a facility cannot be surrounded by
charcoal at the expense of hotels and shopping malls.
This is necessary also to preserve the concept of proper city planning which is a preserve of the beauty of modern towns today.
It all comes down to the issue of poor planning on the part of the local authority and this has been a concern to the Government as Local
Government and Housing Permanent Secretary Stanford Mschili admitted.
“It is the duty of the planning department under the local authority to look into such developments because the Government’s policy is that
any form of construction should be done orderly,” Mr Mschili said in an interview.
Kudos to the National Council for Construction (NCC) which regularly senses local contractors on the need to follow procedure as they engage in building processes.
Of course contractors are out to make money for business purposes.
However, it would be useful for them to help the Government in reminding those who contract them to follow the right building procedures.
A few months ago, this column featured an issue regarding illegal land allocation and the adverse effects it had left on the people of Mindolo Township in Kitwe.
In as much as this problem is being tackled, efforts should be extended to empowering the Directorate of Planning in the local
authorities to look at how infrastructure can be built on more appropriate sites. Send comments and contributions to beyondnews75@gmail.com or call and text to 0973182006.