Sun, 25 Feb 2018 09:56:03 +0000
By ROGERS KALERO
PRESIDENTIAL Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe has directed the Kitwe City Council (KCC) to write-off all the accrued rental arrears at Nakadoli, Buchi and Ndeke markets so that the marketeers and traders at the three modern markets could start afresh.
Mr Sikazwe said he had decided to take that move so that more marketeers and traders could start occupying the three modern markets.
The Minister was speaking yesterday during a meeting with council management and marketeers in the council chambers.
He said the accrued rentals arrears were scaring away traders and marketeers who wanted to occupy stalls and shops at the three modern markets in Chimwemwe, Buchi and Ndeke townships because it was not making sense for them to start paying arrears which were left by other people.
“Even you Mr Town Clerk, is it fair if I move into your house as a tenant, then you subject me to paying the rental arrears which were left by somebody else. Obviously, no, it does not make sense and it is not fair.
“So in this case, I’m directing the council to write-off all the accrued rental arrears which marketeers at the three markets have been subjected to paying. This is not fair, they cannot be paying rental arrears which were accrued by other people,” Mr Sikazwe said.
The directive comes barely a day after the council had reduced accrued rental arrears owed by tenants at Nakadoli market by 60 per cent with the balance of 40 per cent to be paid in four months effective March 1.
Mr Sikazwe also urged the council, ZESCO and Nkana Water and Sewerage Company to step up their service delivery to the markets in the district so that marketeers could trade in a better environment.
He said President Edgar Lungu was not happy with the filthy, and blocked sewer lines at Nakadoli market and so officers at the council, ZESCO and water utility company should step up their efforts.
“We want marketeers to trade in a better environment. Apart from trading in a better environment, we want to reduce the costs of doing business for marketeers,” He said.
