Police demolish 37 houses in Lusaka’s mean wood area

Police Officers at Kambwili’s House in Lusaka

Armed Police officers have demolished houses belonging to about 37 families in Lusaka’s Meanwood residential area near Mutumbi cemetery in a pre-dawn raid.

The Police officers are said to have arrived at about 01:00hrs while the occupants of the houses were fast asleep banging on doors and windows.

One of the affected residents, Jerrys Zilundale has told QTV News that before buying the piece of land, he verified with the Ministry of Lands whose records indicate that a Ms. Njobvu and her family were the true owners of the land.

Mr. Zilundale says the development has taken them by surprise as no one has ever claimed to be the owner of the piece of land in question.

And another affected resident Derrick Simuchimba has cried foul over the demolition exercise saying they should have at least been warned before the demolition was carried out.

Mr. Simuchimba who is a retiree says though life will be difficult for him and his family in the short while, he will live to ensure that justice prevails on the matter.

The victims of the demolition have disclosed that they have up to now not been told the reason why their houses have been demolished and who is behind it as the only thing they know is that it could be a senior politician as they overheard a police officer talking to someone on phone he called honourable.

A check by the QTV News crew found some of the affected residents salvaging the remains of their buildings.