52 families get 14-day eviction ultimatum notice

• Chipata Hospital says they continued living in institutional houses despite receiving terminal benefits

MAYENGO NYIRENDA

Chipata

CHIPATA Central Hospital in Eastern Province has given 52 families occupying government houses 14 days to vacate the properties following an Auditor General’s report that found that the properties are being illegally occupied.

The families, comprising retired civil servants and relatives of deceased employees, have reportedly continued living in the institutional houses despite receiving their terminal benefits and repatriation allowances.

In an eviction notice dated October 26, 2026, hospital senior medical superintendent Mbinga Mbinga directed retired civil servant Nawa Mubita, who occupies house number B16, to vacate the property.

Dr Mbinga said Mr Mubita has continued occupying the house without authorisation despite receiving his repatriation allowance upon retirement.

The notice stated that, under Cabinet Circular No. 12 of 1996, government properties located within public institutions, including hospitals, schools, police stations and military barracks, are exempt from sale.

Dr Mbinga said the houses are reserved for serving employees whose presence is necessary to maintain essential public services.

He added that occupying an institutional house for several decades does not confer the legal right to buy it.

The notice gave Mr Mubita two weeks, from October 28 to November 11, 2026, to vacate the property.

However, a representative of the affected families, Alex Mulubwa, said 52 of the 72 families living in the hospital township have been affected and will not comply with the directive.

Mr Mulubwa claimed that the families are still waiting for official offer letters from the Government, arguing that former President Frederick Chiluba offered the houses to sitting tenants during a visit to the health facility in 1996.

“The presidential directive must be respected. The late President offered these houses to us and our parents,” he said.

The dispute follows findings in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ended December 31, 2025.

The report revealed that 52 houses at Chipata Central Hospital are occupied by non civil servants and families of deceased workers who got their final settlements.

According to the report, the occupants are living in the houses rent-free without legal justification.

Auditors further established that some former employees have continued occupying the institutional houses for more than a decade after leaving public service. https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home