A group of car dealers today stormed the Lusaka City Council (LCC) offices at civics center to complain about the council’s announcement to remove them from the central business district.
LCC Public Relations Manager Chanda Makanta confirmed the move by the automobile dealers to ZANIS in Lusaka adding that the dealers also demanded further clarification on the matter.
Mrs. Makanta said the LCC is concerned with the congestion being caused by the car dealers who usually park their vehicles meant for sale for a long time inconveniencing other motorists wanting to conduct business in the central district.
She said LCC through its city planning department is currently considering finding an open place where the car dealers can park their vehicles for sale to the public.
Mrs. Makanta however explained that the council can only allow the dealers in the central business district for a limited time to maintain consistent traffic flow and parking space for other motorists.
She commended the car dealers for seeking clarification on the matter in a peaceful and mature manner without resorting to violence.
But Katunjila Car Dealers Association committee member Martin Mpundu accused foreign investors dealing in car sales as having incited the council to remove them from town adding that their business has been competitive.
Mr. Mpundu said association members had been paying the council levy for selling cars in the central business district but were surprised at the council’s decision to stop collecting the levy and later giving them an ultimatum to vacate the central business district.
He said the automobile traders should not be looked down upon in preference to bigger and organized dealers as they also contribute to the country’s revenue through the payment of taxes at the border when importing the vehicles into the country.
He said his association is however willing to relocate to any appropriate area where the LCC would want to relocate the automobile dealers and pay the necessary levys and taxes.
Meanwhile, the LCC public relations manager has described as unfortunate the gradual return of street vendors on the city’s main streets.
Mrs. Makanta attributed the trend to lack of man power among the council police who have been deployed in the city center.
She however appealed to the Zambia Police Service to compliment LCC police efforts to ensure that street vendors are brought to book.
Mrs. Makanta has also urged members of the public to desist from buying merchandise from street vendors adding that the practice encourages the vendors to continue trading in undesignated places.
Zambia has become a grave yard for scrap cars from other countries, seems “every one” these days can afford to by a scrap car which does more harm to the enviroment than good for anything else.
It is all because Zambia has no standards. We just accept anything even junks which have outlived their services in their original countries. Most of those second hand vehicles are finished and hence do not even last for a longt time are off the road. They are causing alot of accidents. Zambia has become a damping ground. of course, to the exporters it is a booming business. It is only until our own govt sets the right standards that such vehicles will be properly scrutinized and permit those that meet the standards.
The problem is hostile to good quality cars. It makes no sense that one pays a punitive amount of duty on importing a new and modern car while scrap meant for the scrap yard in their country of origin attract less tax. Venture into importing a car that meets EU, US or even SA standards. This car will not be more than 5 years old. ZRA will charge you so bad that, it’s better to buying a 1993 model, a model that the govt in the country of origin has banned from existence, and thus rewards the exporter for getting it off their land.
The problem is GRZ is hostile to good quality cars. On paper they do not encourage importation of the scrap cars, but it makes no sense that one pays a punitive amount of duty on importing a new and modern car while scrap meant for the scrap yard in the country of origin attracts less tax. Venture into importing a car that meets EU, US or even SA standards. This car will not be more than 5 years old. ZRA will charge you so bad that, it’s better to settle for a 1993 model, a model that the govt in the country of origin has banned, and thus subsidizes the exporter for getting it off their land.
I support the action of LCC but they should find an alternative site for the car dealers as there is too much congestion in the CBD
The alternative is to assemble vehivles locally and ban importation of salaula cars
Wamano Deutschland “sehr schlau” you understood the topic its not about “schrott autos” but the Lusaka City council usw… But hey, as you might have noticed, or just watch how the zambian brain works.
If #1 Sunka mulamu, would have started the comments talking about street vendors everybody else would have followed suit. Thats how people hear function.
Next time we’ll discuss “zucker watte” instead of mealie meal shortages….lolzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Ken Livingstone – Mayor of London has the solution….he has imposed a £25 daily congestion charge for vehicles passing thru Central London. a daily charge of K180,000 for example will rid town centre of the congestion we see today.Unless you have a special parking permit one must be subject to a congestion charge.each business in the town centre must be allocated special parking permits exempting them from this charge but others must pay!! the council can build carparks on the borders of town centre and a bus service from these parks to the middle of town!!less cars,more space & encourage exercise !!
if businesses want extra parking for their customers…they must pay for it !!! sounds crazy but so did expecting Mugabe to just walk away !!!
Do not forget that Scrap metal is on high demand world wide. The Iron and steel company to be set up will need scrap meatl in their production. With proper management of affairs a lot of money can go into the coffers of the GRZ and Council.
a) parking fees
b) help in setting up spare parts business
c) Train more motor mechanics who may start their own business
d) Increase the GRZ revenue through fuel tax
e) Competition gives birth to cheaper means of transport
the list is endless. Only brains are needed instead of thinking negative. A car is not a luxury but a necessility !
“sehr schlau”?
“schrott autos”?
“zucker watte”?
Why use a language understood by very very few people here?
The story is very true!!! How did you guys get fish and put it in the pajero? Rains cannot sort out mugabes Problems as this will entail LPM and LT having no food. Think Twice bp filling station.
No.8 you are 100% right, congestion charge like the one in London is the key for Lusaka and you will see how congestion in the city center will be sorted out. It will be another way of making money for the councils anyway.
Slow down people. We have many challenges in Zambia. A fresh graduate from UNZA always wants to drive a car when he starts work. He saves up and buys a used car. Not perfect but he has a car now. How long would he have to save to get a spanking brand new one from Toyota?
Car dealers have families to feed and send to school. They are not a burden on the government which is a good thing. Lusaka is not Zambia. Charge car owners a fee for driving into the CBD but do not stop dealers and buyers from getting cars, used or not before a cheaper source of financing is available for people to buy recent models.
We are very good at smelting things. Let the scrap pile up, we shall deal with it.
Yes,charge a fee for driving into the CBD during certain hours but also build/maintain ring roads AROUND the CBD to encourage motorists to use them.
#1,2 and 6 Stop pretenting.Life is hard for Zambians back home. You fools are busy commenting negatively on your own brothers who can not afford what you are able to afford. Stop being childish. If you have bought citizenships wherever you are fine .But stop thinking common Zambians are Fools to buy second hand cars.
If you see your brother eating cassava and you are eating chicken and chips.If you foolish you would think he is mad but find out why he eating that?
my opinion is with numbers 8, 10 and 16. Just read and find why.
Its true, life in zambia is hard. If you remember that back to the land of those years, today, you can go back yes, but how to buy those seeds. so, the only thing I can tell zambians who can afford: buy a car, yes, then try to envest that money in farming so that people in the bush have where to work. thats why comment numbers 8, 10,16 better than those who just preach “water while drinking wine”. Iam with all those who can buy a second hand car for a transport busness. The important thing is to keep that second hand car in good conditions, to be sure we save lives on the road, and not only to work for gaining maney.Trafic police is there for bad users, with good inspections.
Magnificent website. Lots of helpful information here. I am sending it to some buddies ans also sharing in delicious. And naturally, thank you on your effort!