Cadres in Ndola today ran amok and attacked High Court Bailiffs and police officers who went to execute a judgment over private land in Bwana Mkubwa which they were illegally selling.
The land in question belongs Mulberry Development Limited where they plan to create thousands of jobs.
The cadres burnt the mining equipment for Mulberry, leaving the company spokesperson Jonas Kunda totally speechless.
“We are shocked at what happened today. The cadres attacked judiciary officers who were executing a lawful order in full view of police. You must also note that there was no demolition at all, it’s just the cadres that acted unruly and damaged equipment used by the judiciary,” Kunda said. “This is a very bad sign for any investor where cadres are acting completely against a court order. It is a bad sign if such lawlessness can occur with cases of arson and looting to happen in the name of cadres in full view of police officers. This is a bad signal to anyone who wants to invest in Zambia.”
The cadres have perpetrated the illegalities despite the High Court ruling in favor of the company.
Prior to the ruling, the cadres had encroached land and illegally gave out plots to unsuspecting Ndola residents.
In doing this, the cadres have been abusing the ruling party’s name to perpetuate these illegalities that they started during the previous regime, according to our sources.
Mulberry Development Limited acquired a parcel of land from First Quantum Minerals Limited for the purpose of developing an Industrial Commercial Park in Ndola.
The area is purely an industrial and mining area with a small residential potion where the company is planning to put up workers houses and community amenities that includes, Health Centre, School and the Skills Development Centre for the youths.
When the said cadres grabbed the land prior to last year’s elections, Mulberry Development Limited reported the matter to the Police.
It is however believed that the Police were unable to take any action because of political interference at that time.
With the zero tolerance policy to caderism the UPND government has come with, Mulberry Development Limited was optimistic that the matter would be looked into.
The company has since sought government intervention through the office of the Provincial Permanent Secretary for Copperbelt Province who set up a meeting where both First Quantum Minerals and the cadres in question were present.
The cadres and their so-called leaders were advised to desist from the illegal land allocations and allow the legal owner of the parcel of land, Mulberry Development Limited, to undertake their projects.
Further, in an attempt to warn the public against taking part in the illegal land allocations, Mulberry Development Limited went further to issue public notices in the newspapers and through the Ndola City Council were call outs were sent and tools were confiscated from those who were found undertaking activities on the parcel of land.
The company also issued two more notices in the newspapers and on the premises of the property warning illegal developers with the help of the Zambia Police Service.
In the same matter, the Ndola High Court had ruled in favor of Mulberry Development Limited.
“Accordingly, I grant the applicant the reliefs sought. I order the respondents and others unknown, who are illegally in occupation or possession of the land in issue, to yield vacant possession of the subject land to the Application within 30 days of the date of this judgment,” read the judgement in part.
However, despite the existing court order, the cadres have continued to possess the private property without fear.