- THE Zambia United Local Authorities Workers Union (ZULAWU) says this is the time councils should demonstrate capacity and ability to handle public resources prudently.
By SANFROSSA MANYINDA
COUNCILS across the country have been challenged prove that they have the ability to collect revenue without any flaws.
This follows the engagement of selected councils to collect revenue on behalf of the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).
THE Zambia United Local Authorities Workers Union (ZULAWU) says this is the time councils should demonstrate capacity and ability to handle public resources prudently.
ZULAWU president, Kingsley Zulu, said the councils should prove that they were able to collect the revenue efficiently so that more responsibilities could be assigned to them.
The ZRA signed contracts with 33 local authorities to collect taxes on its behalf and enable councils receive 10 percent commission. The rest of the councils would be contracted in phase two in the second quarter of this year.
Mr Zulu said in Kitwe the councils needed to prove that they were able to prudently utilize the proceeds realised from the 10 percent commission.
“This move should be commended because it is a clear demonstration that the Government has confidence in the local authorities to collect revenue.
“This shows that the Government believes that the councils have the ability to discharge the function,” he said.
Mr Zulu explained that the councils should not disappoint the people that had high expectations of the programme.
He hoped that the councils could receive more of such initiatives so that they could be generating more income.
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