Dear Editor,
WE know that it is the policy and desire of the PF government to ensure that every Zambian has access to decent and affordable accommodation.
To realise this goal, it is the policy of the government to ensure all Zambians have equitable access to land in a planned and orderly manner.
Access to land is an inalienable right for every citizen. However, the reality on the ground is different.
Local authorities, which are agents of the Ministry of Lands in land allocation and land use planning, have turned land allocation into a cash cow.
They are charging huge sums of money almost comparable to those charged by private land owners, without any services at all.
This flies in the face of Government policy and efforts to empower every eligible Zambian with land and fight poverty.
A cursory look at a recent advert for various types of land by Chongwe Municipal Council will help to buttress our cry.
For example, applicants for an 18-metre by 24 metre residential plot have been asked to pay K500 application fee, K500 interview fee and K13, 000 plot premium if successful.
Application fees and interview fees for other categories of land range between K1, 000 and K3, 500, and K500 and K1, 500 respectively.
Where does this leave ordinary Zambians who cannot afford the lowest premium of K13, 000 for a low-cost plot and non-refundable application fee of K500 and another non-refundable fee of K500?
It is difficult to understand why the local authority should be charging such exorbitant application and interview fees which are non-refundable.
The only logical inference is that they are now resorting to land allocation as a revenue generating venture instead of a service to the public.
If the non-refundable fees were meant to cover logistics, they would be modest.
We know that most councils are not performing well for various reasons that include poor revenue base.
But that is why the government established the Equalisation Fund to help local authorities with a poor revenue base meet their shortfall.
To subject citizens to huge fees and premiums as an income generating venture is not only unfair, but has potential to perpetuate the mushrooming of unplanned settlements.
Low-income families that cannot afford the high cost of land from local authorities will be left with no option but to continue allocating themselves land illegally.
It is for this reason that we request President Edgar Lungu to urgently intervene and save us from the choking cost of accessing land.
Exorbitant council fees and premiums must fall.
LUBETA MULILO,
Lusaka.
