Valuation roll to raise Chavuma council revenue base

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 09:19:20 +0000

By JACKSON MAPAPAYI

CHAVUMA District Council expects to increase its revenue base once the valuation roll is in place, says council secretary Robbie Chitambo.

Mr. Chitambo told the Daily Nation in an interview that the council has never had a valuation roll since its establishment.

He was optimistic that the local authority will collect reasonable property rates once the valuation roll was introduced.

He explained that in 2011, the council had started the process of putting up a valuation roll but the report expired before it was approved by the Ministry of Local Government.

“So, very soon we are starting the process and as I earlier alluded to,   we believe that once this is put in place we will be able to collect enough revenue,”  he said.

Mr. Chitambo admitted that the council had a low revenue base which was a challenge the local authority was facing as it hugely depended on grants to operate effectively.

He said that the council was also exploring other possible ways of increasing its revenue base apart from the valuation roll to provide quality service delivery to the residents.

Mr Chitambo said the valuation roll process would be undertaken for the first time in the district and has since called on residents to cooperate with council staff who will be conducting the surveys.