KETRA KALUNGA writes
@sunzambian
KABWE residents have shocked provincial minister, Sydney Mushanga as they turned the old grave yard which is opposite the Kabwe Central Hospital into a maize field.
Mr. Mushanga who is also Bwacha Member of Parliament (MP) said he was shocked to see people cultivating in the old grave yard and near the mortuary where a number of structures were recently demolished.
He said he was surprised to see all the shrubs in the old John Howard cemetery cleared by the people who were busy doing serious land cultivation and planting activities.
“What I saw as I was going to Mukobeko maximum correctional facility was very unbelievable and shocking because I have been in Kabwe for a long period of time and I am aware where the demarcation for the John Howard is located is the tire mark,” he said.
He expressed the sentiments when Lands minister, Jean Kapata paid a courtesy call on him before holding a sensitization programme for voter registration.
“I don’t know why a normal person could go to such extend because its abnormal and not in order,” he said.
Mr. Mushanga said it was unbelievable that people could go to such extend of cultivating in the grave yard because it was morally and traditionally wrong.
He told Ms Kapata that the local authority and lands department in the district have been engaged on the matter for action to be taken.
And Ms. Kapata in response commended Mr. Mushanga for taking steps to stop the people that are cultivating in the grave yard.
She said the trend was unZambian and as government they would not allow people to start cultivating in the grave yard where the dead are resting.
The Lands minister has since directed the Zambia Police to quickly move into action and stop the trend which she said was sign of disrespect for the dead.
“We have a lot of land in the outskirts of town and if people want land let them go to the rural areas and cultivate instead of disturbing the dead, we are not going to allow that,” said Ms. Kapata.
