Lusaka man puts govt clinic on sale
A land owner has allegedly placed the newly constructed Barlastone Clinic in Lusaka on sale and has subdivided and sold land around the health facility to private individuals.
A check at the facility found the advert for sale written on the walls of the clinic which has already been roofed.
One of the buyers has already built a fence around an ablution block and a borehole which was sunk for the clinic.
Barlastone Ward Development Committee Chairperson CHIKOKOLA WILIMA has expressed shock that a government facility can be placed on sale by a private individual while it is still under construction.
Mr. WILIMA says it is sad that the clinic which was to offer health services to the community has now been placed on sale by a developer who is claiming the land.
Mr. WILIMA has urged the government to intervene and reverse the sale of the clinic adding that the nearest health facility is five kilometers away.
Another resident JUSTIN MWABA says the community is shocked and angry that community land has been taken over by an individual.
Mr. MWABA has told ZNBC News that the land where the clinic is being built was given to the community by the previous councilor and it is shocking that the structure has now been placed on sale.
And when reached for a comment, Mwembeshi Ward 31 Councilor CHRISPIN KABOLE said the land owner legally owns the land where the clinic was built and he won a court case over the matter.
Mr. KABOLE said he is now in negotiations with him to find a way of saving the clinic from being sold or demolished.
Efforts to get a comment from the land owner proved futile as phone calls went unanswered.
Matero Member of Parliament MILES SAMPA said he is investigating the matter to get to the bottom of it.
Credit: ZNBC