ILLEGAL DEVELOPMENTS: OCCUPATION OF PREMISES WITHOUT CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPATION, UNAPPROVED EXTENSION OF HOUSES AND ENCROACHMENT OF PUBLIC LAND

Blantyre City Council

For immediate release:

It has come to the attention of Blantyre City Council that people are occupying premises (houses, offices, shops, warehouses and factories) without getting the necessary statutory approvals for the issuance of Certificate of Occupation.

Many developers are also extending their buildings without first seeking the approval of the Council and a lot more are building houses and structures on illegal land.

The general public should note that it is illegal under Section 44 of the Town and Country Planning Act to carry out any development in the City without first obtaining the necessary approvals from the Council’s Town Planning Committee.

The Council is reminding all those that have occupied these premises and also those that have made extensions to their structures without the necessary approvals as well as those that have illegally built structures on any land to immediately contact the City Council’s Town Planning Department for the way forward.

The Council shall conduct a verification exercise from 1st October, 2015 and all those found not to have adhered to this notice shall be heavily penalized and proper enforcement action shall be carried out.

Dr. Alfred W.D. Chanza
Acting Chief Executive Officer

15th September 2015