Vandalism, theft derail development in Luanshya

A civic leader in Luanshya district on the Copperbelt has expressed concern over the high levels of pilferage of building materials for Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and Ward Development Fund Sponsored projects which he said is hindering development.

Milyashi Ward 24 Councillor, Bernard Mufungo, said the implementation of well-meaning development projects being spearheaded by the local authority in his ward was being frustrated by a few counter-productive individuals who were pilfering building materials.

Councillor Mufungo cited the recent case in which more than 22 window panes were stolen from Section 25 Mini-hospital in Mpatamatu Township which is being expanded at a cost of K350, 000 using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

He said the on-going CDF funded construction work which will see the addition of children, male and female wards with a 15 bed capacity is being negatively affected by pilfering of building materials.

He said in the latest case a suspect, who is a security guard, has been arrested and detained to help police with investigations.

Councillor Mufungo said the other mushrooming problem which is negatively affecting the advancement of development is the increase in cases of vandalism on public property after the Council spends colossal sums of money rehabilitating the infrastructure.

The Councillor has called on Luanshya residents to be vigilant and affect citizen’s arrest on people stealing or vandalizing public property for the sake of seeing to it that the implementation of development projects in the mining town is not derailed.

This is contained in a statement released to ZANIS by Luanshya Public Relations Officer, Gideon Thole.