By ALICE NACHILEMBE
Chililabombwe Municipal Council has approved a budget of K86.6 million for the 2020 Civic year.
This is better by K21 million of the K65.6 million budget for Chingola Municipal Council.
Chililabombwe is a smaller town as compared to Chingola which has two constituencies and is aspiring for city status next year 2020.
The Chililabombwe budget is expected to be financed through locally generated revenue and Local Government Equalisation Fund (LGEF).
Speaking during a special Council Meeting held recently, Finance, Valuation, Commercial undertakings and General Purposes Committee Chairperson Lewis Mwila said that the Council needed to be innovative and efficient in revenue mobilization in order to realise the planned programmes and projects for the ensuing year.
Mr Mwila also reminded the council that the population of the district had drastically grown and Council needs to ensure that the community was provided with the much need services.
He said that the Council had increased Ward Development Fund (WDF) from K80, 000 to K180, 000 per ward translating into K3, 960,000.00 for all the 22 wards.
He also said that Council had set aside K31.9 million for service provision which translates into 42% as per the ministerial guidelines and in line with the Council’s strategic plan.
He said that Council intends to procure a Skip loader, water bowser and a tractor at the cost of K2, 600, 000.00,l and later construct a dump site at the cost of K656,000.00.
On the budget, the Council also want to procure skip bins at a cost of K203, 300.00 and also legalize unplanned settlements such as Kawama and PP Zambia.
“Projects to be undertaken under the 20% Capital component of the Local Government Equalization Fund (LGEF) in the 2020 budget included; construction of a modern bus station within the Central Business District at the cost of K400, 000.00, construction of Hostels at fire station, construction of an ablution block and abattoir at Kasumbalesa, rehabilitation of Lubengele Hall and rehabilitation of counter tops at Lubengele Market.
“The 2020 budget of K86.6 million represents an increase of 0.9% against the previous budget of K85.6 million,” he said.
