By JOHN SAKALA
Chingola Mayor Titus Tembo has today confirmed that Chingola Municipal Council has received a letter from Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) asking for land to relocate the 100 families affected by mining blasting exercise in Nchanga.
However, Mr Tembo said KCM had not indicated the size of the land required and where the mining firm is suggesting the families to be relocated to.
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“Land is readily available, we just need to sit and discuss on the size of land required and the specific location KCM may have in mind. But I should make it clear that we cannot offer land for free to KCM, we can only agree to break even,” he said.
But the letter from KCM is very clear on its request.
The letter is simple and straightforward that KCM needs land to build cost effective houses (medium cost) for 100 families.
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The Council being the planning authority understands the actual size in metres of a medium cost house which can easily be multiplied by 100 families.
And Nchanga Member of Parliament Chali Chilombo expressed happiness that the community in his constituency that has been living in cracked houses for over 15 years will finally have decent accommodation.
Mr Chilombo said the matter had become topic for human right infringement.
He told Chingola Council to immediately act on the letter from KCM to prevent further delay saying the matter has dragged on from April 17 when all the parties met to move in the said direction.
