Why We Need a Development Mitigation Fee Programme
As a resident of Lusaka, I have seen firsthand how our city is growing at an incredible pace. New shopping malls, office buildings, and residential estates are transforming the skyline, but our road infrastructure is struggling to keep up. Every day, I experience the traffic congestion, deteriorating roads, and lack of safe pedestrian and
cycling paths that make commuting frustrating and even dangerous. With limited government funding, I believe we need a new approach to financing road improvements one that ensures developers contribute to the infrastructure we all
rely on. That’s why I strongly support the idea of a Development Mitigation Fee Programme, a model that has been successful in other parts of the world and could be a game-changer for Lusaka.
In cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, developers are required to pay a fee that helps fund public infrastructure improvements needed to accommodate their projects. This makes perfect sense—when new developments bring more people,businesses, and vehicles into an area, they should also contribute to the upgrades required to support that growth. If we implemented a similar system here in Lusaka,it could help finance much-needed projects like the expansion of Great East Road,the improvement of Kafue Road, and further enhancements to the Lusaka Decongestion Project.
I can already imagine how this could benefit our city. Picture a Lusaka where traffic flows more smoothly because major roads have been expanded, where pedestrians feel safe because of well-maintained sidewalks, and where cyclists finally have dedicated lanes to ride in. A Development Mitigation Fee Programme could make this a reality by ensuring that developers play a role in building the infrastructure we all depend on.
I have watched Lusaka transform with the construction of major projects like East Park Mall, Pinnacle Mall, Waterfalls Mixed-Use Development, and the rapid expansion of neighborhoods like Silverest and Lilayi. These developments
are exciting and bring new opportunities, but they also put immense pressure on our existing roads. Right now, most of our infrastructure expansion depends on limited government funding and external donor support, which simply isn’t enough to keep up with our growing city.
Without a sustainable funding model, we’ll continue to face worsening traffic congestion, road safety hazards, and delayed infrastructure projects. But if we introduce a Development Mitigation Fee Programme, every new commercial,
residential, and industrial project would contribute directly to road improvements.
This would ensure that as our city grows, our infrastructure grows with it. Not only would this help ease congestion, but it would also create safer roads for pedestrians and cyclists, while freeing up government funds to be invested in other critical sectors like healthcare and education.
The idea is simple: the bigger the development, the greater its impact on the road network, and the more it should contribute to infrastructure improvements. The Lusaka City Council, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, could establish clear guidelines on how these fees are assessed and allocated. A similar system already exists in California under the Mitigation Fee Act, which ensures transparency in how funds are collected and spent. If we adopt a structured approach here in Lusaka, we could prioritize projects like the completion of the Lusaka-Ndola Dual Carriageway, upgrades to the Inner Ring Road, and much-needed improvements to intersections and traffic control systems.
I believe it’s time for us to take a proactive approach to fixing our roads. We cannot continue to rely solely on government funding while our city expands at an unprecedented rate. As residents, business owners, and commuters, we all have a stake in Lusaka’s future, and we must demand smarter solutions to our infrastructure challenges.
I urge policymakers, city planners, and stakeholders to push for the establishment of a Development Mitigation Fee Programme. Organizations like the Zambia Road Safety Trust and other advocacy groups can help lead the conversation and engage decision-makers in finding the best way to implement this Programme. If we act now, we can create a Lusaka that is not only growing but also well-planned, safe, and efficient for everyone. Change cannot wait any longer. It's essential that future developments help create a road network that serves everyone effectively.
Daniel Mwamba,
Director,Zambia Road Safety Trust (ZRST)
I think this is a great idea. An area in London called Tower Hamlets is another great example of this. It was the equivalent of Bauleni or Chipata compound in the 70s and 80s but has completely transformed since an equivalent of a development fee was introduced for new development companies in the area. That money goes to the council who spend it on healthcare, social housing, cycle lane development and road works. The council realised the developers need the land as much as the council need the money so they wouldn’t walk away even if they complained about the fee. It also makes development more equitable so that the poor are not completely left behind.
i like the developer fee idea, this could be another avenue to bring in funds in govt coffers that can be channeled on building safe roads and paths, maintaining or improving them too. this fund can also help build recreational parks where people can spend time away from busy roads too.
Govt needs such kind of forward thinking and great ideas to score more on infrastructure and social improvement.
The idea is good but my fear is that the money will be stolen. President HH has pumped in more and more money into CDF but local authorities are failing to stand up and be counted. In Kasama for example, municipal construction experts failed to supervise construction of an ablution block at a local school. A substandard structure was erected.
Daniel Mwamba, you are ignoring the main problem and climbing to fix the leaves of the tree when its the roots that need fixing.
Just how many taxes will incompetent governments introduce? We pay income tax, personal levy, road toll taxes PAYE, whatever, all to a thieving government machinery waiting for this loot to pounce on. Then they will construct mansions and drive cars not designed for African potholed roads.
We should not want to throw money at the problem to solve our incompetencis. We should not continue pouring money into a treasury waiting for looters.
First sort out our fiscal discipline! From the president down to the street sweeper! Sorry street sweepers, on deeper analysis, I remove you from my statement. Zambia’s thieves have been presidents, politicians and public servants. Just check our track record. Zambia needs Traore and Sankara
This money will just be stolen or misused to pay salaries, clear local suppliers etc. Just forget about this
Great insights. Perhaps we also need to strengthen oversight institutions.
There’s one more thing the writer should be concerned about. Residential property development in the Silverest area of Chongwe is not being guided by a physical plan on the ground. There’s therefore an environmental disaster waiting to happen in that place. There’s no mains water, no sewerage service, no land being reserved for schools, police station, fire service etc.
It is easy to start from new downtown.because rich people are there and they prefer nice road and willing to pay for the new road.
What surprises me most, we build roads serviced by drainages that are never covered. Then we start appealing to the people not to throw garbage in our newly constructed drainages!
Someone up there must be bonkers!
Are okay upstairs? Look, you’re justifying littering.
No, muZambian has a point. The past 30 years we have introduced these open drains next to roads. They are around the new section of Hillcrest in Ndola.
I never saw them in Wusakile, Kantanshi chamboli or Kalulushi where i grew up. They attract litter from pedestrians as well as from wind. Which imprudent engineer came up with these? Since they are so near to the road, they also are not user friendly for road runners who could slip and fall into them.
Why are we justifying double / triple taxation here ? Roads ,schools ,traffic lights,potholes and street lights…thats what our property taxes are supposed to cover.
Ka Gunner is an imbecile.He supports open drainages.Am sure he also supports open defecation
Let me tell that open drains have been there since the 1970s but they were never clogged with litter as the case is now. Now who’s the embecile? Do you know that Lusaka CBD has covered drains. They’re clogged by rubbish and mud.
Ka Gunner. How many people were they in Lusaka in the 70s.Change with time, my boy. With Zambians today, any depression is considered a rubbish bin.I have seen potholes in our roads patched with rubbish and stones. Zambians are now numerous in population and everyone is busy hustling. They have no time to look for unseen garbage bins. Authorities cannot continuously be appealing for citizens emotions not to throw garbage anyhow.Apply the by-laws.Good civil engineers must also consider human behavior in their plans and designs
So I still insist. You are an imbecile
Imbeciles are those who litter and those who justify littering because of open drains.