Wylbur Simuusa: Transparency in land administration

IN what could be considered by any standard as a classic case of exemplary leadership, Lands Minister Wylbur Simusa has subjected himself and his wife Beatrice to the intense scrutiny that goes with land acquisition in Zambia.

The minister, who is in charge of land administration in the country, is seeking to acquire a piece of land in the mining town of Chingola on the Copperbelt Province.

Yet, despite wielding so much power over land affairs to an extent where he could even organise a plot for himself from the comfort of his office, Simusa has opted to stick to procedure and compete fairly for a plot on merit with all applicants.

He was, together with his wife, among the hundreds of citizens recently interviewed by a panel of local government officials (councillors and council officers) at the Chingola Municipal Council.

“The man has demonstrated good leadership, which all councillors ought to emulate,” commented George Mulenga, the town clerk for the home town of the world’s second largest open pit mine – Nchanga Open Pit Mine – shortly after the former Mines minister had been interviewed and driven off.

Councillors across the country have over the years earned themselves the dubious distinction of being among the most-corrupt public officers due to their widespread practice of corruptly allocating large chunks of land to themselves and their relatives.

Under the immediate past government of the Movement for Multi-party Democracy, it was unheard of for a Cabinet minister to go and queue up for any services – be it acquiring land or buying a bag of mealie meal in a supermarket.

A former Lands minister once allocated herself over three prime pieces of land a few years ago before she was sacked by late Zambian Third President, Levy Mwanawasa – the man from whom current President Michael Sata has drawn much inspiration for his ongoing anti-corruption drive.

President Sata had made fighting corruption in public offices the number one priority for his government and recently ordered the re-instatement of the Abuse of Office clause into the Anti-Corruption Commission Act. The clause was scrapped off by the previous government, whose majority former ministers are now facing various charges of corrupt practices in the courts of law.

Simusaa, the first Mines minister in the Patriotic Front (PF) government, had applied for land in Chingola’s upcoming township – Chingola South – in 2011.

“We are very touched and humbled by the minister because despite being in charge of land and land acquisition, he had to travel all the way from Lusaka to Chingola specifically to come and attend the land interview with his wife,” added the town clerk.

“Even when they came to the Civic Centre, they never rushed through to be given the VIP (Very Important Persons) reception. The Minister and his wife waited until their turn for interviews had come and were subjected to the same procedure like everybody else.”

When contacted for comment later in the day, minister Simuusa maintained that he was a citizen like any other Zambian and had to undergo the same standard procedure to promote transparency in the allocation of land.

“Even if I am not given the plot, I will understand, accept and respect the decision of the council officials. I will not abuse my ministry,” declared the soft-spoken Nchanga member of Parliament.

“It does not mean just because I am minister of Lands then I should be issuing instructions … so that my family members benefit. I want the councils to follow procedure and ensure there is transparency (in the allocation of land).”

The new township was funded by the Ministry of Lands for land designing and development and has about 24,000 plots. The ministry is currently putting up beacons and marking roads.