Lusaka City Council (LCC) is losing an estimated cost of K60 billion in unpaid rates annually.
This is according to a Valuation Roll listing register which shows that commercial
properties are topping the list.
This came to light during a Strategic Planning Workshop which ended yesterday at
Siavonga’s Manchinchi Bay lodge in Siavonga.
Valuation and Real Estate Management Department Assistant Director Mwansa Sambo said the LCC has not been able to update its Valuation Roll since 1995 resulting in the
loss of revenue.
Mr Sambo disclosed that about 30 000 stocks are currently rated in the city while
about 70 000 are not taxed due to the outdated Valuation Roll.
In 2001, a budget estimate was done on the implementation of the Valuation Roll and
money committed by Government towards the exercise but it did not take off due to
unexplained circumstances.
However, Mr Mwansa noted that the local authority was currently in discussions with
cooperating partners to ensure that the Valuation Roll is updated.
The Assistasnt Director also called for a legal framework that will clearly
stipulate what direction the Council is supposed to take in Public Private
Partnerships to enhance infrastructure development.
”We do not have an adequate legal framework for PPPs, nothing has been formalized
and the Council has been on the receiving end”, Mr Sambo said.
Lusaka City Council which has been operating without a Strategic Plan since the
expiry of the 1999-2004 Plan called a one- week long workshop to craft a new one to
run from 2008 to 2013.
The Strategic Plan once completed is aimed at developing a strategic direction for
Lusaka City to mark the beginning of consultations with key stakeholders and
partners.
LCC has to start showing real value for their existence in services delivery. As it is, many people are demanding to see where their money will go before they can pay. This doesnt help LCC. We know they have acute financial problems but to put up functional robbots, no street lights, street names in new neighbourhoods surely doesnt cost $60 billion. But no one will give it to them until they stand up for some real services in Lusaka.
This is a very accurate assessment of what is obtaining in Zambia. How on earth can the lead City council fail to account for almost 66+% Rate payers??
Rates are the cornerstone of it’s income, how do all the Town Clerks that have served since the last valuation, justify the INERTIA THAT HAS PERTAINED??
How can they fail to update a valuation roll when people apply for services from them?? The City council has the overall jurisdiction over land within the city limits, so they have no excuse to say land has been issued behind their backs by MOL. This is why, we the few ratepayers suffer at the hands of an incompetent, useless council administration. People have no idea of why they occupy public office, for most, the short story is, simply waiting for a salary at monthend – not even knowing of how that salary gets funded. Seems for most people in high office, money seems to grow on trees, just baffles one why they aren’t in a habit of planting more trees!!!
it is quite obvious why there is no political will to re-valuate the rolls.The politicians own alot of property in the capital and elsewhere if the correct rates were applied…..???!!!! how do you explain a house valued at 800 million attracting annual land rates of 420,000 based on 1973 values when the house was valued at 43 million ?? Houses which are valued at 50 million on council rolls have been bought, torn down and monstrosities built in their place…but the rates are calculated at the original values.whilst many of us benefit from this inertia, i concur with any call to have our public officials getting off the backsides and doing some work for a change!!
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It’s good to see how residents are concerned about the operations of the Local authority. I am a firm believer of constructive criticism. It’s interesting to note though that the comments on this forum are largely based on conjecture as to the ‘whys’ and ‘wherefores’ in the operations of the Lusaka City Council. Is it really so that, as ‘Bauze’ suggests that “inertia” is the reason why the Valuation roll has not been updated? He has not explained how council officials have exhibited this “inertia”. My advice is that let your arguments be based on established facts for them to add value to your local authority. It would not hurt for you to amble into the Civic centre and gather your facts before you condemn any council official’s backside! As one writer puts it, “It is easy to be brave from a safe distance.”
surely, u pepo are expecting too much from a group of acting this , acting this, acting this etc. non of the council officers has a substative postion including the tc.
how can they lose money they didnt have in the first place?