Lusaka City Council (LCC) has adopted a K347, 764, 040 budget for 2021.
In his budget presentation, Finance, Valuation and Commercial Undertakings Committee Chairperson, Patrick Mwape explained that the Council has planned to finance K288 million, representing 83 percent of the budget from locally generated revenue, while the remaining 17 percent is expected to come from Government in form of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and Local Government Equalization Fund (LGEF).
Mr. Mwape, who is Chilenje Ward 8 Councilor, said 40 percent, representing K115 Million of the 2021 locally generated revenue has been set aside for service provision in a bid to improve the level of service delivery in the city.
“My committee has set aside in the 2021 budget estimates 40 percent (K115 Million) of the locally generated revenue to be channeled towards service provision. This is aimed at improving the level of service provision to our people here in the Greater City of Lusaka.”
“My Committee has proposed to revise the current level of Ward Development Fund (WDF) from K431, 000.00 to K435, 000.00 per ward,” Mr. Mwape said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mwape disclosed that in order to achieve the proposed budget, the Council has paid attention to a number of key areas and assumptions which include expectations that next year’s inflation rate will be around 15.8 percent.
Mr. Mwape stated that the other assumption is that the Council through the Finance department shall deploy point of sale terminals to all site offices which is expected to eliminate all manual cash collection systems and also implement the electronic Levy system in markets.
“The Council plans to implement the collection of the Council revenue through mobile money by the end of the first quarter of 2021. This includes integration of bank platforms to collect around 30 percent of the accumulated historical debt of K86, 298,284 Million through the use of the Council’s own debt collectors and the Sheriff’s office.”
“Other key assumptions are to complete the construction of Mini-Civic Centers by the first quarter of 2021 to decentralize the operations of the Council in Six constituencies; and also to complete the preparation of Lusaka Integrated,” he added.
He also revealed that the local authority has approved the reduction of Ground Rent by 50 percent for clients without arrears in Peri-urban areas, as a way of demonstrating the need to collect revenues while giving back to communities.
The budget was adopted during the Special Council Meeting held in the Council Chamber today.