KITWE City Council (KCC) has discovered that a significant portion of its own land at Freedom Park, which houses several council offices has been mysteriously titled to a private developer.
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This is the same as the narrative that Dalitso Mwana wamu Komboni stated in one of his songs that when a mouse stays in a house for a long time, it starts to think like it’s a family member.
The discovery was made during an internal process aimed at formalising the council’s ownership of its properties.
KCC’s revelation left the local authority in shock and unsure of how the private developer could have possibly obtained a land title for council property without authorisation.
According to KCC spokesperson Emmanuel Lupikisha, the initiative spurred by a government directive on improved asset management and safeguarding of public land, unexpectedly unearthed the illegally obtained title to a portion of council’s freedom park.
He said initial investigations have indicated that the private developer allegedly obtained the title deed between December 2024 and January 2025, under mysterious circumstances and without consent or knowledge of the KCC.
Lupikisha emphasised that the council never authorised the sale or transfer of the land, and that the issuance of the title deed was seemingly conducted without following proper legal procedures.
“This has raised serious questions about the integrity of the land title and the private developer’s motives behind the acquisition,” he said.
He announced that the council has therefore decided to recommend the immediate cancellation of the purported title deed for the land adjacent to the NAPSA Complex, which was illegally obtained by a private developer.
KCC also resolved to enlist the assistance of law enforcement agencies to investigate the illegal acquisition of the title deed.
“This move aims to unravel the details of how the title was acquired and to ensure that all parties involved in this unlawful transaction are brought to justice,” Lupikisha stated.
“It’s important to note that the land in question was carefully selected for development in the hospitality sector, as part of the council’s long-term strategy to promote investment and economic growth in the city.”
Lupikisha further reaffirmed the council’s dedication to safeguarding public assets and maintaining the integrity of land designated for the benefit of the community.
By Sharon Zulu
Kalemba July 2, 2025
