UNITED Liberal Party (ULP) President Sakwiba Sikota has commended Government for revoking the decision to increase land rates by 1,000 per cent.
Mr Sikota said in a statement released in Lusaka yesterday that land was a vital component in the development of the country which needed to be handled in collaboration with other stakeholders such as farmers.
He commended the Government for responding to concerns raised by farmers on rates and for revoking its decision to increase land rates by 1,000 percent.
“Currently, most of our farmers cannot afford to pay huge land rates because of limited use of land.
“While we appreciate that Government needs resources to administer land matters, there is a need to develop a system that will help to increase food production and meet the cost of land administration,” the statement reads in part.
Mr Sikota said the ULP hoped the decision not to increase land rates would lead to a system that could benefit both the farmers and institutions that administer land.
He said Government should reform the valuation of land Act to allow for some exemptions to community organisations such as charities involved in farming.
Some of the concessions on land rates could be provided to pensioners who decide to get into farming.
Mr Sikota suggested that peasant farmers that intended to get into commercial farming with land size from 50,000 hectares could be allowed to apply for exemption from paying land rates for two years.
He said Government could also put in measures to ensure there was no abuse of the exemption facility.
Mr Sikota said if land which had been subjected to exemption was alienated within six years of such exemption, the new owners would have to pay the exempted rates.
[ Times of Zambia ]
You mean Saki is about & kickin?>:d<>:d<>:d<>:d< What happened to the Vice Presidency promise? Dude has been kept quiet coz of the ka prospect,but Bwezi aint letting go of Nkunda.Just concetrate on your law firm bra,politic aint yo game,l8r:)]:)]:)]:)]
Let all the commercial farmers especially Chinese and compny pay the 1000 % rise. Dont apply it on Zambians who are already poor.
That should apply to Commercial farmers the rich………..ma rates ali expensive.
This is the kind of reporting which is hopeless – is it more important for readers to know what Saki or whomever he is has said than the actual story about land rates? where do you get such hopeless journalism from?
SIKOTA no matter how you say……….. No Vice President for you. Just concetrate moblizing your part in Mongu…….End of you political revolution no direction…..2001 for UNPND, 2006 for PF..two years later 2008 for MMD. For 2011 I will not be supplised if you go along with COSMO MUMBA. Finished.Come on guys
All those who own land in Zambia for commercial purposes should pay rates. I still do not understand the 1000% increase though. It is because of such short sightedness, include poor tax regimes, cheating on taxes, dishonesty ++++ that we have failed to provide social amenities in Zambia. Why do you think tax collectors were the most despised in biblical times?