Tuesday, June 10, 2014

I have stabilized Lusaka-Mulenga Sata

Local Government Minister Emmanuel Chenda (left) listens to Lusaka Mayor Mulenga Sata during a tour of Lusaka town centre market
Local Government Minister Emmanuel Chenda (left) listens to Lusaka
Mayor Mulenga Sata during a tour of Lusaka town centre market
PF Lusaka District Chairperson Mulenga Sata has boasted that his responsive leadership is responsible for the stability that the ruling PF has enjoyed in Lusaka.
Mr. Sata who is also Lusaka Mayor said from the time he took over as Lusaka District PF Chairperson, there have been no unrests in the ruling party.
He said Lusaka residents deserved to live in a peaceful city without any trouble from the party cadres.
“Lusaka is traditionally a peaceful place and what was happening sometime back was a sign that leadership was failing. What I have tried to do is provide leadership and everyone in the party is following through,” Mr Sata said.
He said he does not expect a repeat of the leadership wrangles that rocked the party’s leadership in Lusaka.
Meanwhile, the Lusaka City Council (LCC) has sent a final warning to defaulters owing the Council close to K1 billion to pay up or face legal action.
The LCC is owed millions of Kwacha in rates, rent and billboards that has accumulated over a period of time.
Assistant Public Relations Manager, Brenda Katongola said the Council has since given tenants occupying its properties in Lusaka’s Ibex Hill, a 21-day ultimatum which elapses today (Tuesday, 10th June) to pay up or face eviction.
She said the Council has also sent warning letters to other defaulters to pay up or come 1st July, the civic authority will send bailiffs to help the institution recover the monies owed to it.
“The Council is owed a lot of money in unpaid rent and rates by various institutions and individuals and from billboards over a long period of time. Paying rent and rates is mandatory by law. This time we are not encouraging defaulters to pay, but we are warning them.
We sent out letters to tenants occupying the few remaining Council houses in Ibex Hill on 21st May, 2014 to pay up, failure to which they will be evicted. Some tenants are owing the Council more than K100,000 in unpaid rentals,” Ms. Katongola said.
Ms. Katongola said the Council will not allow illegalities to hamper its efforts of providing quality service delivery and warned defaulters with outstanding amounts in rates, rent and billboards to pay for the civic authority to deliver on its mandate.
“People need to honor their obligations and pay what they owe the Council for us to offer quality service delivery to the community and also for us to be able to function effectively.
“Come 1st July, bailiffs will pounce on the defaulters. This is in a bid to generate revenue for the council especially that people have failed to honor their obligations even after reminders were sent out.
Apart from sending bailiffs, we will also start taking defaulters to the courts of law for the necessary action to be taken,” she said.