Ndola City Council says it is investigating a matter in which a Lebanese business investor has allegedly encroached on land belonging to Ndola Squash Club. The investor, who runs food outlets, has reportedly razed down the club’s perimeter fence after procuring land said to…

Ndola City Council says it is investigating a matter in which a Lebanese business investor has allegedly encroached on land belonging to Ndola Squash Club.

The investor, who runs food outlets, has reportedly razed down the club’s perimeter fence after procuring land said to have previously hosted old council toilets.

Ndola Town Clerk Stanley Mbewe confirmed the development in an exclusive interview with the newsroom Sports.

Mbewe said Council has received a complaint from Ndola Squash Club and is engaging both the club management and the developer.

“We have received that concern from Ndola Squash Club regarding a land dispute. We wish to appreciate that even the Squash Club doesn’t have a title but that person who is developing land has a title,” Mbewe said.

“So, we are reviewing the title to see if he has really encroached or not. We have taken the matter to the Ministry of Lands. Once an appropriate decision is made we will be able to communicate whether the developer has encroached or not.”

He added: “If he has encroached he will be told to go back to where his title is and we also want to establish how he acquired the title. We are engaging both sides so that we come up with an amicable solution.”

Meanwhile, the Chapter for the Revival of Ndola City has accused the Council of having a malicious and irresponsible scheme against prime sports facilities by encouraging foreign investors to encroach on their land.

Chapter President Chungu Kapema said Ndola lacks adequate functional sports facilities and the Council should not aid illegalities at the expense of sports development.

Kapema cited a similar attempt at Ndola’s Kwacha Centre where the Council allegedly wanted to sell land to a foreign investor to set up a filling station.

He called on residents to object to the illegality and petition the Town Clerk to stop the development.

“All this has been done without presenting any documentation to prove so and without engaging Ndola Squash Club management,” Kapema said.