Lusaka City Council in the early hours of this (Wednesday) morning swung into action razing down some bill boards along Burma, Lumumba and Leopard Hill roads in an effort to recover about K4.5 billion outstanding debts owed to it by agents.
LCC Assistant Public Relations Manager Mulunda Habbenzu disclosed this to ZANIS in Lusaka today and named some of the defaulting companies as, Modern Link Limited with an outstanding debt of K151 million, G. Rutherford owing K575 million while Andheri investment owes the local authority about K61 million among others.
Mr. Habbenzu said the non compliance of these agents compelled the local authority to with immediate effect take action by razing down all their billboards and warned that the operation would soon be extended to other defaulting agents.
Mr. Mulunda said only two companies namely Andheri investment and Morden Link Limited were affected in today’s operation while G. Rutherford has been given a 48- hour- ultimatum due to their willingness to settle the outstanding debts.
In another development, Mr. Habbenzu has warned people that were turning residential plots into commercial properties.
He said the Council was concerned about people turning their residential plots into commercial plots where lodges, schools among other income generating ventures have been opened without obtaining permission from the Council.
Mr. Mulunda warned property owners of stern action once found practicing such prohibited activities.
He said any change of activities on any residential plot without the Council’s permission was a crime which attracted a fine or prosecution as it contradicted the Town and Country Planning Act Cap 283 of the laws of Zambia which prohibits such vices.
And Mr. Habbenzu has said that there was currently no law in place that compelled the local authority to reduce ground rates.
He said such reductions could only be effected once a by-law was put in place after Councillors agreed to do so.
Mr. Habbenzu said LCC had not thought of that as they did not have any backing for them to consider reducing ground rates.
This follows concerns on whether the Council had plans to reduce ground rates as was the case with Kabwe Municipal Council which cut rates up to 40 per cent.
ZANIS
That is good money if only Lusaka city collects it and use it for the city. There are just too many of bill boards in zambia.But how does the city account for those bill boards in zambia since even in soweto market you can find them?
The city of Lusaka is indeed cluttered with billboards, Lusaka City council should regulate the erecting of such adverts. They are some streets that make it impossible for road users to see traffic signs. Its high time these guys were regulated. There are some road adverts that contribute to lighting the road ie those on Great east Road have been well erected and contribute to an otherwise dark road. Of course there are both positive and negatives about these boards
My problem with LCC is that often times they react in a manner that could be classified as harrassment because they don’t give adequate advance warning to remind those concerned of impending action within a specified reasonable timeframe. Ironically, some prohibited activities happen because the council takes too long to process applications.