Peri-urban areas in Lusaka owe the Lusaka City Council (LCC) over K30 billion in unpaid ground rates.
LCC Public Relations Manager, Chanda Makanta disclosed to ZANIS in Lusaka today that the residents have defaulted in paying ground rates hence the accumulation of this money.
Ms Makanta said this has made it difficult for the council to provide services which people from these areas need.
She said due to the debts the council is unable to construct and maintain roads, provide water facilities and other services.
Ms Makanta said it was for this reason that LCC has introduced good incentives for residents to encourage them start paying the ground rates to the council.
She said the council is giving a 30 percent discount to all residents who will pay K50, 000 monthly rates between now and 31st December this year.
She added that another 30 percent will be given for every extra K50, 000 that will be paid while other households goods like cooking oil, mealie meal will be given depending on the amount paid.
Ms Makanta said apart from getting the money to provide services to the residents, paying ground rates will enable the residents be issued with occupancy licences.
She said occupancy licences will provide a guarantee of ownership for their houses and properties.
Ms Makanta disclosed that the mayor of Lusaka will launch the incentives programme in Bauleni compound tomorrow.
ZANIS
People in zambia should change their attitude and learn to pay their bills. Even paying for electricity and water is a problem but they still want to use them. Let’s pay just as we buy air-time for our phones. Nothing is for free…let’s be responsible please.
I have the following utility bills on DDAC. Water bills and half the time we do not have water and we have no meter. Power bills and what surprised me was that during the period we had the worst load shadding is when we received the highest power bills because ZESCO was using estimated readings I was told. LCC receives service charges and they provide no services at all. They do it shamelessly. SAD.
Nambala 1 you’re perfectly right, the “I don’t care”attitude needs to change if our nation is to develop. Here in Europe, forget to pay your bill and you will feel the consequences – no heating system in Winter means death by Pneumonia.
we having paying rates for years now and nothing has ever been done to show it in our community. I think its time we also stopped. The structure of LCC also has to be changed to make the city more manageable..
Unless households are penalised for not paying they will continue to default. Naturally no one wants to part away with money. LCC need to find ways of enforcing payment. Incentives mentioned above are not necessary. A consumer is obligated to pay bills for what they have consumed..
Madam Chanda Makanta it not true that LCC is failing to provide services to residents in peri urban areas due to non settling ground wster rentals amounting to K30B. Pipo may be unwilling to pay those levies due to the poor services being provided by LCC. It will be unfair and unreasonable for a sane person to fail or neglect to pay what is due to the council knowing that there is efficiency service delivery by the council. Look at new settlements from Cooperatives College down to Kamwala South and Makeni area, Bonaventure. Pipo bought plots paid service charges and what has the council done to demand rates etc. No roads no sewer, water etc yet massive investment is visible what has LCC done to date. Zero. LCC failed to provide houses but pipo have done it. LCC should not be talking. NO