Govt denies selling Chongwe land to Dingles
By Staff Reporter
Government has refuted claims that it awarded over three million hectares of land located at the south end border of the Kafue River in Chongwe District to Dingles Kafue River Lodge Limited.
In a statement this morning chief government spokesperson Dora Siliya said the land in question, which is only 335.5 hectares, was leased out to Dingles Kafue River Lodge Limited on May 1, 1994 for a term of 99 years for agricultural use.
Siliya said, however, 24 years down the line, Dingles Kafue River Lodge Limited applied to Lusaka Province Planning Authority for permission to change land use from agricultural to commercial.
“In line with Section 53 of the Urban and Regional Planning Act No.3 of 2015, Lusaka Province Panning Authority placed an advertisement in the print media to inform members of the public of the intention by Dingles Kafue River Lodge Limited to change land use,” said Siliya
“Nonetheless, when Lusaka Province Panning Authority placed a bill board in Chongwe District to notify members of the public in that area of Dingles Kafue River Lodge Limited’s intention to change land use, they inadvertently left out a point on the figure of hectares,” stated Siliya.
“Government regrets the inconvenience this misinformation has caused to the people of Chongwe District and beyond. I wish to advise members of the public to clarify or verify facts at the relevant offices to have a correct position on the issue.
This is the more reason why members of the public should take interest in the on-going debate on land reforms so that they can be part of their refinement.”
