Politics

‘PAY LEVIES TO COUNCIL FOR IMPROVED SERVICE DELIVERY’

By NATION REPORTER
Marketeers must pay levies to the council so that the local authority can offer quality service to citizens, Citizens Democratic Party (CDP) president Robert Mwanza has said.


Some marketeers in Lusaka are now refusing to pay market levies to the council, claiming that Minister of Local Government, Gary Nkombo, told them that levies should not be paid anymore.
This follows Mr Nkombo’s visit to Soweto Market in Lusaka on Thursday where he interacted with marketeers.


Mr Mwanza however said it was through such levies that the council raises revenue.
He said without enough revenue, local authorities cannot offer quality service to citiczens.
“Marketeers must continue paying levies so that the council can have money to offer quality service to citizens,” he said.


And Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary, Mathew Ngulube said at no point did Mr Nkombo tell the marketeers to stop paying the prescribed fees and levies to the local authorities.
According to a statement issued by Ministry of Local Government Public Relations Officer, Chila Namaiko, Mr Ngulube said Mr Nkombo only said that he had taken note of their grievances that included issues surrounding the payment of fees and levies which was being abused by political cadres pretending to be officers from the Lusaka City Council.


He said Mr Nkombo had assured the marketeers that the complaints regarding different fees that were being demanded at the markets and bus stations would soon be reviewed to ensure that only council approved levies and fees were charged.


Mr Ngulube said Mr Nkombo categorically stated that all marketeers from across the country were expected to pay the levies to designated authorities.

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