Parliament probe on Livimbo school ‘sale’ starts today
Parliament will from today start a full inquiry into the alleged sale of Livimbo school in Lilongwe and other government plots following revelations of the suspected shady deals.
Three parliamentary committees of Education, Legal Affairs and Transport and Public Infrastructure have been entrusted with the task where Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development officials are the main stakeholders.
According to a programme Parliament has released, the committees are scheduled to meet with officials from the Lands Ministry today before visiting the affected places.
Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Joseph Mwandidya has confirmed the meeting.
“We have been summoned following the news that has been in the media and interest the public has on land matters, including that of Livimbo. So, I can say we are going there tomorrow,” he said.
In an interview last week, Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara confirmed that they would conduct the inquiry to understand the alleged Livimbo school sale and encroachment saga and other land-related matters.
The alleged sale of Livimbo school (community day secondary school and primary school) came to light last month during a meeting between Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament and a Ministry of Lands delegation when Lilongwe City South West legislator Nancy Tembo said the public school was sold.
While admitting that Livimbo school was encroached, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Symon Vuwa Kaunda, who has toured the institution three times, insisted government did not sell the school.
He, however, admitted the existence of a parallel lands office in the ministry.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) instituted a probe into the alleged sale of the school a day after a report on the matter was made public.
Meanwhile, Irfan Mohamed Patel and Ahmed YajubLaheri have threatened to sue government over part of Livimbo Primary School land they are accused of encroaching.
On Saturday, Lilongwe City Council (LCC)demolished warehouses Laheri erected on the disputed land, which borders Livimbo school, describing it as “illegal construction”.
In an earlier interview, Laheri insisted the school encroached on his land and he will take legal action against government.
Meanwhile, his lawyer Ishmael Wadi has said he was aware of notices from LLC to demolish the buildings, but they had filed an appeal against such a decision.
“We are moving step by step. We are amending our notice of appeal to the planning board and after the hearing, that is when we will decide the way forward,” he said.
