By Clozzen Bikale
Solwezi Municipal Council has placed a 30 per cent waiver on all commercial property in Solwezi.
Solwezi Town Clerk Bornwell Luanga said most of commercial property owners had not been compliant with property rates payments.
Mr Luanga said as a result of non-compliance, the rates had accumulated over the years amounting to K5, 804, 752. 76.
He said the council is mandated to collect the same money failure to which it will attract audit queries.
“This is why the council management has proposed a 30 per cent waiver on the accumulated debt to encourage commercial property rate payers to settle their rates and also as a way of encouraging them to paint their buildings and pave their frontages.
“The 30 per cent waiver would translate into K1, 741, 425.83 of bad debt leaving an amount of K4063, 326. 93 owed by the commercial property owners. The waiver is strictly meant for commercial property owners in preparation for the North Western Expo,” he said.
