By RABECCA CHIPANTA –
BWANA Mkubwa member of parliament Jonas Chanda has assured the more than 5,000 residents of Old Regiment that they will not face eviction following a legal notice to vacate the area on the northern outskirts of Ndola.
Dr Chanda said various meetings had been held with regards to the pending eviction of the settlers and assured the residents that no one had the right to displace them from land they had occupied for more than 50 years.
He said his office would soon engage the Ndola City Council ( NCC) on modalities to legalise the settlement and issue the settlers with titles to the plots they occupied.
He assured the residents that this was the last time the issue of eviction was to be discussed as the Patriotic Front (PF) being pro poor had put the interests of the citizens first.
“We have followed this story with keen interest and approached the relevant authorities, even brought it to the attention of President Edgar Lungu. This is the last time the issue of eviction will be talked about. The council has to legalise this settlement and give people papers to show that they own this land,” Dr Chanda said.
Dr Chanda further urged residents to report anyone found demarcating land to relevant authorities adding that the police were on hand to deal with such people.
He emphasised the need for Zambians to own land and not to be sold to foreigners stressing the importance of revising the Land Act and Policy over ownership.
He said that Government, through the Ministry of Lands, would soon table a bill in Parliament to revise parts of the Lands Act.
He indicated that the revised Land Act and Policy should clearly state that land ownership was for Zambians and  foreigners could only occupy land under a sub- lease or rent system from Zambians, without having land title.