26 May 2009
THE 82 families in Kitwe who were evicted from a farm, where they have been squatting, have vowed not to vacate the land contending that they have been living there for many years.
The families in Mufuchani area across the Kafue River said in an interview yesterday that they had no other place to go to, with some claiming to have settled there for more than 30 years.
The families were evicted from the area on Saturday morning by court bailiffs in the company of armed police officers.
This follows a court order, which the landowner, a Mr Gilbert Zulu, obtained to have the squatters evicted.
The squatters, who had their houses demolished, said they would not move from the area and have been spending nights in the cold since Saturday.
One of the victims, Evans Mwewa, said it was unacceptable for an individual to be harassing the more than 82 families whose livelihood depended on farming on the same piece of land.
Another squatter, Robson Musonda, said Mr Zulu should negotiate with them how best things could be resolved.
He said most of the people had lost property and money when their houses were demolished.
Mr Musonda said he lost K300,000 and a cell phone when his house was burnt on Saturday.
And Kitwe Mayor Stephen Chipungu said he was awaiting more information from area councillor Abinala Mumba and Kwacha member of Parliament Lombe Mulenga from their visit so that a solution could be sought.
He said it was only after these processes were completed that the council would sit down and decide how best it could assist the 82 families.
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