Merlyn Mwanza
Economic Front (EF) leader Wynter Kabimba has written the Chingola Town clerk demanding that the people of Kasompe Community be compensated for the replacement values of their demolished properties over and above what was promised to them.
In a demand letter addressed to the Town clerk dated September 06, 2022 and seen by Daily Revelation Media, Kabimba stated that he was writing on behalf of the residents who have retained his services to represent them in the matter, demanding that they be adequately compensated.
“We refer the above matter and wish to inform you that we have been retained to act for the Kasompe Community whose properties were illegally demolished last month by the council and hence note our professional interest in the matter. It’s our client’s instructions that their occupation of the Kasompe area took place with the full consent and authority of the council and its officers over the years and legal documents were accordingly issued to them,” Kabimba stated. “Further, during the last visit to the area by the Honourable Minister for Transport and Logistics accompanied by some government officials, our clients were assured that no demolitions would take place. This assurance was also given to them by the Honourable Minister of Local Government when the community representatives met him at his office in Lusaka.”
Kabimba argued that the assurances and guarantees from the senior government officials together with council documentation in their possession showed that his clients were legally in occupation of the area in question and that the consequent exercise to demolish their structures was itself an illegality.
He stated that he had been instructed that since the demolitions, his clients have been subjected to acts of intimidation to prevent them from seeking legal redress against the council, which he said was working in collaboration with “some political figures in the district.”
“In view of the above, we hereby demand that our clients be adequately compensated for the replacement values of their demolished properties over and above the plots you have promised to be allocated to them,” stated Kabimba. “We are amenable to negotiations for an ex curia settlement and we shall wait to hear from your office within 14 days from the date of this letter in default of which we have instructions to commence legal proceedings in the High Court accordingly.”
