By ALICE NACHILEMBE
Chingola Mayor Johnson Kang’ombe has strongly condemned residents of Lulamba Extension for building structures in the Muslim graveyard, issuing a stern warning to cease construction immediately.
Those found building in the graveyard will have their structures demolished .
Mayor Kangombe emphasized that desecrating fresh graveyards by building houses on them is unacceptable and “un-Zambian.” He clarified that graveyards can only be repurposed if they are over 100 years old and with the consent of local authorities and the community through a town hall meeting.
During a site visit, prompted by community complaints, Mayor Kangombe encountered individuals building on the site, who fled upon his approach. He vowed to prevent illegal activities in his council and has summoned councillors to investigate the matter.
In a related development, Mayor Kangombe warned individuals building houses in Mulonga Water Sanitation Company’s sewer ponds to stop.
He highlighted the health risks of building shallow wells in these areas, as they can contaminate water sources and spread diseases when mixed with sewerage.
The Mayor emphasized that the area is designated for sewer treatment, not residential plots, and urged compliance to prevent harm to public health.