Zambia Minister orders arresting illegal land dealers

A Zambian minister has issued an order to arrest the illegal land dealers, Zambia Daily Mail reported on Saturday.
Home Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha Friday told Inspector- General of Police Ephraim Mateyo to investigate and arrest criminals illegally allocating land in Lusaka and other cities in the name of political parties.
"One area that requires your immediate professional action is the illegal allocation of land in Lusaka and other cities. With immediate effect, you shall deal very hard ... and I mean very hard with these criminals who are illegally selling and allocating land," said the minister.
"You must go out and arrest these criminals, including their leaders, who are working behind scenes at the Lusaka City Council and the Ministry of Lands. You must work very closely with the Anti-Corruption Commission and other investigative agencies to remove these criminals from society," he said.
He made the order in Lusaka at Lilayi Police College at the parade of 30 cadet assistant superintendents and 591 recruit constables.
He said there are too many complaints of illegal squatters on other people's land that has title.
"These are also criminals, even those who have constructed illegally," he said.
The minister said he wants the police to arrest those "whether they are MMD (ruling party), PF (opposition party), UDA ( opposition party), UPND (opposition party) or ULP (opposition party) cadres or whatever party. They are criminals because they have broken the law and, therefore arrest them and bring them before the courts of law."