Bailiffs from the Lusaka High Court today seized office equipment and motor vehicles from two catholic learning institutions and national housing authority in Kafue for failing to settle outstanding ground rates owed to Kafue district Council.
 Kafue District Council Secretary,Ronica Miyoba confirmed the seizure of the goods to
ZANIS in Kafue today.Â
Mrs. Miyoba said it was unfortunate that the affected institutions refused to pay
the ground rates even after the council agreed to give them concessions.Â
The council official disclosed that the national housing authority (NHA) in Kafue
owes the local authority K310 million. Saint Ambrose Vocational Training College,
K64 million and Malundu council K13 million.
Mrs. Miyoba said that the council was facing financial difficulties which have led
to it failing to provide satisfactory community services and pay salaries to its
workers.
She added that the companies should not complain whenever the council takes such
actions because there are all mandated to pay ground rates by law.
Seizure of Property not a solution
It is unfortunate to learn that property has been seized from defaulting customers by the Kafue District council. Looking at the large sums of money involved, indeed one would support the council for having taken this uncompromising stance leading to the seizure of property from the culprits.
Much as i do not support the defaulters, i still feel there is still room for reaching a lasting solution with regard to the non remittance of ground rates to councils by many of our Zambian citizens/property owners country wide. Ofcourse, this is not the first time we are hearing of property being seized by a council through bailifs, due to non payment of rates. It has happened before and the scouge still continues to happen everywhere in Zambia where councils exist.
This therefore, should be a point of reflection for the councils countrywide. Ask yourselves as to why property owners are not paying the rates. The answer is very simple and very clear, its you councils which have caused these problems. As a concerned Zambian citizen i do not see any valuable service rendered to the citizens by these councils. Most of the money, if not all the money you collect goes to your emoluments and in return do not give any service to the residents.
Please, councils start business ventures which will make you self sustaining and will reduce on the seizure of property.
I remember when i was young, ofcourse, not long ago councils used to operate tarvens, sold school uniforms among other ventures and regularly used to grade gravel roads, clean drainage etc in return, but this is not seen anywhere, but we hear everyday they are asking for government funding.
Be innovative, thats why people are not payong the rates.
Mutale – DRC Kolwezi