The opposition United Democratic Front-UDF- has reacted angrily to assertions that its President Atupele Muluzi approved allocation of Livimbo school land to a businessman, an issue that has now sparked controversy.

UDF spokesperson, Ken Ndanga, says the assertions are sheer propaganda from government officials who are failing to justify their actions on the said incident.

Atupele Muluzi was minister of lands in the previous administration in a quire political relationship.

"As a party, we know not of any evidence to substantiate these allegations other than a simple radio interview. We believe that such a transaction ought to have documents which must be in the custody of both the ministry  and the so called buyer," Ndanga says in a statement issued yesterday. 

Current Lands minister, Symon Vuwa Kaunda, is on record saying a former minister of lands gave the approvals in 2017.

At that time, Muluzi was the sitting minister. Vuwa Kaunda now says his office is working on ensuring that that the matter is investigated as demanded by HRDC and several committees of parliament.

"We are working to comply with all that which HRDC and the parliamentary committees want. Our position at this stage, is that that piece of land belongs to government. Of course we are aware that the claimant of the piece of land has documents that show there was approval in 2017 from the minister then," Kaunda said.

But HRDC chairperson, Timothy Mtambo, insists that what they expect on the Livimbo issue is action from government in ensuring the public school is permanently protected.

"We want nothing short of action. Government must make sure the land is permanently back in the custody of the school and that whoever was involved in any fraudulent activity in the matter is brought to boo," he said.