Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Lusaka Province Planning Appeals Tribunal has granted the Lusaka City Council permission to proceed with demolition of structures built on the Zambia Railways Njanji Commuter Reserve Land in Libala area.
This is in a matter where some Lusaka residents challenged the decision by the Lusaka City Council and Zambia Railways Limited to demolish their structures built on the land in question.
Delivering ruling today, Tribunal President, Milner Katolo said the residents had no legal basis to claim ownership of the land.
He also ruled that the appellants did not have planning permission from the Lusaka City Council nor Zambia Railways Limited to develop structures on the land in question.
Mr Katolo ruled that Zambia Railways Limited has prior use of the land, a situation that has never been revoked, and that no individuals can claim ownership of the said land.
He said the tribunal had visited the site in order to appreciate the issue at hand and it was shocked to find that some properties were built right on top of the railway line with rail tracks protruding from the buildings.
The Katolo led tribunal said it was shell shocked with the findings where people had literally built structures on the actual railway line.
The appeal has since been dismissed with costs to the respondents.
In September last year, Zambia Railways Limited and the Lusaka City Council issued a notice that they would demolish all houses and structures that were illegally built on a stretch commonly known as Njanji commuter land without compensation.