Mtendere Police Post Land in Legal Jeopardy

A Mtendere Township resident Hurst Matende has asked the Lusaka High Court to stop the construction of Mtendere Police Post on grounds that part of the land it sits on belongs to him.

Matende has sued Patriotic Front Mtendere Ward 33 Councillor Watson Mtonga for allegedly demolishing a property to pave way for the extension of the Mtendere police post.

According to a statement of claim filed by Matende who has also sued Wamuba Construction Company, the plaintiff says he purchased the said property located on plot Number 4052 / Block C Mtendere Township from Jane Namugala at a cost of K 35,000 in which both parties executed a deed of assignment where a copy of the certificate of title deed was surrendered.

He said in June, 2018 he received a phone call from Mtonga directing him to stop transacting with Namugala as the said property was earmarked for the extension of the police post.

Matende said upon receiving the information he went to verify the facts with the Lusaka City Council where he was informed that what the councillor had told him was not true.

He said that despite having notified the councillor of the legal status of the police post, they went ahead and demolished his property as part of the plans to extend the police post.

Matende is claiming K500, 000 as compensation for the demolition of the house, an injunction retraining the defendants either by their agents or servants from trespassing , interfering or carrying out any developmental activities on the said property.

He is further claiming for damages for the inconveniences caused by the defendant’s action of threatening and demolishing of the property.