RESIDENTS of Lilayi East Park, near the Lilayi Police Camp have accused the police of attempting to seize land they have occupied for more than half a century.
The small community of about 60 households, whose origins date back to the era of the first President Kenneth Kaunda, claims they have been repeatedly threatened with eviction by police officers.
According to the residents, who requested anonymity for fear of harassment, some of the houses, built during Kaunda’s time, were even reportedly used as holding cells.
“We have lived here for more than 50 years. Our families have grown here. Yet every few weeks, the police come with eviction notices, and we are made to feel like trespassers in our own homes. Sometimes, they come with eviction notices, telling us to vacate our homes in three days. Those who are not fearless are usually made to vacate their homes by the police,” said one of the residents.
According to the community, the land dispute escalated after Ministry of Lands officials visited the area in 2020 to survey the land and promised residents offer letters and title deeds for Farm 04A, which includes their homes and the surrounding police camp.
Shortly afterward, community members noticed outsiders farming the land and building large houses which according to them raised concerns that the land was being allocated elsewhere.
In 2022, the residents allege that senior police officers, including some commissioners, divided portions of the land among themselves and started constructing their own homes.
The residents also shared with Kalemba that attempts for them to formalise their ownership through government channels were met with resistance.
They claim the officials from the Lands ministry initially instructed them to apply through the local council rather than Home Affairs, only for surveyors to be blocked by police vehicles and officers during site measurements.
Even intervention from the local Member of Parliament Andrew Tayengwa failed to resolve the matter, so they revealed.
“We tried to follow the law. We hired surveyors approved by the council. Yet the police insisted the land belonged to them. We hired surveyors when the council told us that the land had no ownership and we would get it after going through the necessary processes, which we did, but to no avail up to now,” they lamented.
They said they eventually took the matter to the Human Rights Commission (HRC), which confirmed that the land had no registered owner and referred the case to Legal Aid for possible court action.
The community members said the constant threats, surveillance and intimidation have left them feeling unsafe in a place they consider home.
“We are civilians. We have never worked with the police. Yet we are treated with disdain and contempt,” they said.
Kalemba, November 27, 2025
