President Edgar Lungu has given Kitwe City Council 20 days in which to revisit rental charges at the Nakodali market in Chimwemwe township as the charges were unreasonable.
Addressing a public rally at the market after a conducted tour of the premises, today, President Lungu said it was not making sense to have built a big market and yet not occupied despite having constructed recently.
There was no way a market of this size could be failing to provide services which are supposed to be enjoyed by marketeers when they were paying rentals, said the President.
“ It would be make more economic sense if the council can reduce rentals so that there is full occupancy and maximize on rental collections, “ the President said.
He said he was aware that even the little that was been collected is been pocketed a situation which he described as unfortunate.
He reasoned that it was important the money being raised is ploughed back so that the welfare of marketeers such as clean water, toilets and garbage collection are provided.
“ It is upsetting and worrying to discover that most local authorities have slowed down the pace of developmental projects which have been funded under them, “ he said.
President Lungu warned that he will not hesitate to fire erring and incompetent managements so that the ae replaced with those who ready to deliver and work.
The PF’s slogan of putting more money in people’s pockets means that as a party it wants to provide and improve health delivery services, schools and other social amenities which will enhance their livelihood, he said.
He also wondered why water utility companies in the province had failed to meet the water demand of locals.
He said his office will not sit but find out from the responsible ministry to get answers.
And President Lungu has urged water utility companies on the Copperbelt to improve water supply.
He said he was aware that there is a problem of water supply in most area in the province.
The head of state said he will engage the management of Copperbelt based water utility companies to establish their problems and see how water supply can be improved.
He charged that he will not hesitate to fire culprits if the problem is about people not working.
President Lungu reiterated his commitment to developing the country and stated that his government’s performance should be judged from 2016 when he started a full term of office.
He said his government will empower people but stated that it will not put money in people’s individual pockets but will instead provide a conducive environment for people to make money.
And President Lungu has urged Kitwe residents not to be swayed by opposition political leaders who are inciting them to leave the Patriotic Front stating that there is nothing the label PF members can do for them.
He also urged the residents of Chimwemwe and Wusakile to work with their independent members of parliament, Mwila Mutale and Pavyuma Kalobo respectively so as to bring development in their areas following the two MP’s willingness to work with the ruling party.
He urged them to remain loyal to the ruling party as it is working hard to develop the country and address the needs of the citizen as promised during the campaigns.
Earlier, cabinet minister, MPs and PF senior party officials took turns to urge Kitwe residents to continue rallying behind the ruling party as it was the only party capable of addressing their problems and bringing meaningful development to the country.
The ministers and PF party officials cautioned the Kitwe residents against listening to the empty promises of frustrated politicians who failed to deliver when they held government positions.
Meanwhile, president Lungu has concluded his three day working visit on the Copperbelt where he commissioned the ZAFFICO poles treatment plant in Kalulushi, inspected works on the Mufulira-Ndola road and also inspected police officer’s houses construction project at Mukambo boarder among other engagements.
What’s wrong?
In every story that comes, the presido is telling people what to do. Aren’t Zambians able to run things? Or do things run them?
In 20 days nothing will be done, then what??
I guess another ultimatum will then be issued to revisit the old ultimatum. Going round in circles instead of moving forward – a sad but common sight on our African continent.
What a joke of a president…. no clue you need to go back to Chawama
Its takes a F.OOL not to realise that no one takes those threats serious anymore
After the ultimatum Lazy Lungu will create a Task Force to see why rental charges are high!!
ECL is living his dream while dimwit have nothing to do but denigrate … Hallelujah!!!! I love it when someone is living his dream and hater are nothing but onlookers wishing they were him.
Get a life haters, find something to do that will give you personal satisfaction other than insulting our President … get a life or get lost!!! Let ECL run this country the best way he knows how.
After his term then find time to criticize him otherwise offer constructive criticism now where things are due. If you can’t handle the heat, get the hell out of the kitchen or run for that office yourself and we will see what kind of material you’re made of.
ECL, your time is now busk in your element. You have my full support ~ Your Number One Fun, B R Mumba, Sr.
@ BR muntuwandi…
I think so too. It’s just that critics just focus on negatives and magnify them to the point of rendering even the positives negative.
Just amazed at the number of things unknown to the leadership! And please while we’re at it why are the councils continuously increasing everything they control including council rates on property?
AN EXCUSE FOR MARKETEERS FOR NOT OCCUPYING THE MARKETS IN PREFERENCE FOR STREET VENDING… THE CHARGES BY THE COUNCIL ARE STILL VERY LOW…
HOWEVER, WE THANK THE PRESIDENT FOR BEING THE MAN OF THE PEOPLE..
Man of the people ? The thief has only taken a break from looting, his ways of running the country like a chawama pit latrine are a joke,,…..is there no one accountable for all this ?
He is aware that even the little that was being collected is being pocketed a situation which he described as unfortunate.
Is that all a head of state can say? Unfortunate? He’s got the machinery to take the culprits to Chimbokaila but can only lament? He has no teeth this president
that statement by the president is hear say,let him provide proof,he has challenged people who have called him corrupt,or that he cant fire a minister on hear say.MR PRESDO,if you have the evidence that the market revenue is being pocket ,let the agrieved party take legal action.when we read the audit reports under the pf sata?lungu ,we can conclude that pf is pocketing taxpayers money and your govt says the funds were misappropriated.
“President Lungu reiterated his commitment to developing the country and stated that his government’s performance should be judged from 2016 when he started a full term of office.”
It’s one thing to let provinces, and cities, go fishing and mend their own nets, not depending on PF to govern them.
By the way, how’s Lusaka, is everything running smoothly? So we can emulate before we get lectured.
First you say more discipline in PF – then you show indiscipline by order a change in pricing without understanding the economics behind it.
Great minds discuss ideas
Average minds discuss events
Small minds discuss people. – Eleanor Roosevelt
HH is going to stand even if the law is changed and the law will come into effect after the 2021 elections.
This is the reason why we must not blame the president but Zambians in management who fail to deliver real services to the people.IT IS NOW TAKING ECL TO CORRECT THINGS!!but Zambia is just too big for the president to correct things everywhere.we must improve our work culture which is bad!!
AS FOR INDEPENDENT MPS-MANY OF THEM ARE PRO PF-A GOOD THING INDEED!!when Hon.Ng’ambi brings a bill to limit a number one can appear on a presidential ballot,HH wont make it!!Kainde will be finished once that bill tourches base in parliament soon!!
PLEASE WATCH ON ZNBC TV TODAY’S PF MAMMOTH RALLY IN KITWE!!
Come 2021 ni PF nafuti nafuti!!
Great minds discuss ideas
Average minds discuss events
Small minds discuss people. – Eleanor Roosevelt
HH is going to stand even if the law is changed and the law will come into effect after the 2021 elections.
zambia has witnessed such writings of diehard cadre mindset,and when the same allow turns against you in future the same people will cry foul.ELON MUSK,the founder of spaceX lost $290 million in failed attempts on rockets and spacecraft shipments,but today his company is the only one that has successfully launched the most heavy and reusable launch system.its not the parliamentarians to put laws but its upto zambians to vote on who they want to be their presdo.HH is free to contest as many as he wants,
@spaka like tonga ask your fellow upnd tribal cadres HOW HUGE TODAY’S PF RALLY WAS IN KITWE!!am sure they have watched on ZNBC and about 1 764 upnd members in mongu have defected to PF today in presence of the Veep Inonge Wina!!
PF is still very strong in 6.5 provinces so you must stop cheating yourselves in opposition that PF is finished-FAR FROM IT BECAUSE NUMBER ON TV DO NOT LIE!!
Those are rented crowds…..no one can have time to go and listen to this thief if not coerced
The PF leadership should continue mobilising the party like this atleast twice a month across Zambia.We have seen the splendid works of our mother Inonge Wina in Mongu where more than 1 700 upnd cadres ditched a tonga party at a colourful event to join PF!!WATCH 22 HRS ZNBC NEWS TO PROVE ME WRONG!!
All Independent MPs on the copperbelt were at PF rally in kitwe and spoke to voters about how good PF is!!plus we hear that each constituency leadership will receive 120 bycicles,motor bikes,some even vehicles to mobilise PF-WINA AZALILA IN 2021!!while PF is mobilizing its party seriously like this,dull opposition leaders just jump from 1 radio station to another and conduct endless press conferences in Lusaka-HOW CAN THEY GROW THEIR SMALL PARTIES LIKE THAT?We dont want to hear a word…
Ati splendid worksssiiii…….million’s of people have no clean drinking water and thousands are getting cholera, right in the capital Lusaka……the thief lungu is only lying, he has taken a break from looting because there is no borrowed money…
@Katana;YES YOUR DUNDUMWEZI LAW WILL TAKE EFFECT AFTER 2021!!but the Zambian law if passed in parliament,it will take effect from the day it will be enacted!!
DID YOU SEE HOW GARRY NKOMBO WAS FUMING LAST WEEK OVER THIS ISSUE?Garry Nkombo knows that if that bill is taken to parliament,then HH is finished because the bill will 100% go through since PF have high number of MPs in Parliament!!
How can you know the popularity of the opposition when you can not even allow them to meet their members in various provinces.You use govt resources to mobilize members from all over the Copperbelt and then boast to say numbers don’t lie, Tell us more on what happened in Mufulira.
pf will not rule forever and one day they will be in opposition.Do unto others as you would like to do unto you.
ENJOY YOURSELVES WHILE IT LASTS!
This is bum is an utter embarrassment …please stop interfering in municipal councils affairs you moron go back to Lusaka and do your work!!
The resignation of honourable kalaba has left the president sleepless. I think he going to do his work now
He runs the country like his tarven in chawama, no one is accountable, like there are no managers…
Show some respect.if u r president one day and u r insulted the same way how would u feel
If I spend $42 million on ambulances that should cost $20 million and millions of people have no clean drinking water with more than 70 dying in the capital city , I deserve to be insulted more if I was president..
@Katana:nobody stops your Kainde to campaign across Zambia.he is free to do so BUT DUE TO POOR STRATEGY,HH PREFARE HAVING PRESS CONFERENCES IN CHALALA OR RHODESPARK IN LUSAKA INSTEAD OF GROWING HIS TONGA PARTY UPND IN 6.5 PROVINCES WHERE IT IS VERY WEAK!!
whether those are rented crowds,we dont care!!plus it shows that PF has a good strategy because numbers do not lie.we have seen huge crowds even in mongu where the Veep Mrs Wina received 1 766 upnd defectors to PF WHILE YOUR KAINDE SLEEPS IN LUSAKA!!
By 2021 PF would have established a solid foundation across Zambia if they continue like this.SEE,ALL INDEPENDENT MPS IN PF STRONGHOLDS ARE TAKING THEMSELVES CLOSER TO ECL BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT ONLY PF COULD ENABLE THEM RETAIN THEIR SEATS IN 2021.if they saw hope in HH or Kambwili,they…
Njimbu enjoy our money while you can, and stop hallucinating about HH. Right now PF has a lot of work in front of you. While you busy HH this and that problems are pounding the locals, its only a matter of time before they give up and demand Lungu to go. You moving too fast, thinking about 2021 while forgetting about current challenges and the ones to come is not good. You will need to overcome all these challenges before you can even think about wining 2021. For your own information, the trend with our politics is that a party in power continues to lose votes as time passes by, so by the time PF gets to 2021 expects a big chunk of the votes you got last won’t be there.
The disparity in rentals doesn’t reflect the economic status of the country. I was shocked that an agent could ask for $4,000 monthly rent for a house that was built in late 50s in Parklands. Who can afford to rent a house at K40,000 in Kitwe? This is what should unsettle the Religious Minister, not the fabled dolls
Yah, Even Residential Rentals in Kitwe they are just too high such that you wonder if it a mining town where you expect rentals to be low.
Those high rentals indicate that there is money in Zambia , Zambia is a rich country but the money is in the hands of thieves controlled from state house while millions have no jobs with millions still drinking contaminated dirty water …..
A safe theory is 1/2 of zambias wealth is externalised with 1/4er of the other half feeding corruption of the lungu lead gang of thieves and the remaining 1/4 is used to bribe citizens and campain to keep lungu in power…..what buildings you see is from borrowed money and the merciless taxation of citizens….
Let’s face it Kitwe City Council on the Nakadoli market f___ed big time. They have not been making any money from this market because of abnormal rentals. It’s better to reduce rent to affordable levels and make some money which can be used to improve the city.
HH has just been telling others what to do! Wow! Ignorance in this party is huge!