. Katanga

By MOFFAT CHAZINGWA –

ANOTHER suspended Patriotic Front (PF) councillor in Kitwe has been arrested in another scandal involving illegal sale of plots by civic leaders in the district.

Copperbelt Police chief Charity Katanga confirmed the arrest and named the suspect as Andrew Simwanza of Itimpi Ward in Garnetone township.

Ms Katanga said in an interview that Mr Simwanza was arrested after he allegedly duped four people by promising that he was going to allocate them plots but never did.

She said Mr Simwanza who had been charged for obtaining money by false pretences, was arrested on Wednesday and detained at Mindolo Police Station.

Ms Katanga said Mr Simwanza allegedly sold four plots to different people who apparently were never allocated the pieces of land.

“I can confirm that police in Kitwe have arrested a suspended councillor for Itimpi Ward for obtaining money by false pretences,” Ms Katanga said.

She said the arrested councillor was scheduled to appear in court soon.

The arrest of Mr Simwanza brings the number of councillors who have so far been nabbed and detained in police custody in Kitwe to three following the instituted probe into illegal land allocation involving councils.

Others that have been victims so far include, John Chilipula and Evans Nsongo, both suspended PF councillors for Bupe and Ndeke wards respectively who were detained and spent nights behind bars while Mayor Kelvin Sinyangwe was only warned and cautioned in connection with the illegal sale of plots.

Kitwe City Council (KCC) is one of the three local authorities alongside Ndola and Livingstone that were cited for corruption involving land allocation by Local Government and Housing Minister Stephen Kampyongo.