LCC says Woodlands Stadium collapse is NEGLIGENCY (PICTURES)

MUSANDA CHAILE writes

INTERIM inspections carried out by Lusaka City Council (LCC) show that the Woodlands Stadium accident which killed one person was as a result of negligence on the part of the contractor.

LCC has since given Woodlands stadium developer Forli limited a seven-day ultimatum to show why legal action should not be taken against them.

Last Friday, part of the building around Woodlands Stadium collapsed claiming a life and injuring two others when the construction company Liege Africa tried to demolish the old walls where they intended to build a Food chain outlet.

In a statement, LCC inspections indicated that Forli limited did not have permit to carry out demolition works.

The inspections also showed that the site was not secured by way of putting up a holding to avoid both uncontrolled movements from pedestrians and motorists.

“The developers were carrying out demolition works to allow for alterations to  existing structures without any permit from the Council. There was no safety and risk measures outlined pointing to the way the demolition would be carried out,” according to the statement from the council public relations manager George Sichimba.    .

“The stability of the existing structure and that of the neighbouring shops was not assessed and therefore, posing a huge risk to workers and even to the adjacent neighbours. The existing structure of the stadium wall has developed alarming cracks which requires immediate attention,” LCC has since put a halt to all developments on site until the matter is resolved.

Works on the site were scheduled to resume yesterday.

But City of Lusaka football club, a team sponsored by Forli managing director Diego Casili in a statement described the accident as an occupational hazard.

“The unfortunate incident which happened on Friday where one worker regrettably died was an occupational hazard,” club general secretary Julius Sialuzu.