The Lilongwe City Council faces a staggering MK13 billion in unpaid city rates, with only 38% of billed residents—46,000—fulfilling their obligations.

Officials warn that the actual revenue gap could be far worse if the remaining unbilled population were included.

Council Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mcloud Kadammanja revealed the deficit during a first-quarter media briefing Monday, lamenting that the unpaid bills severely hinder service delivery and development projects.  

"We operate under tight resource constraints, and such massive arrears directly impact our ability to meet residents' needs," Kadammanja said.  

He however said the council has, in response, deployed 100 temporary ward-based revenue collectors for a three-month blitz to recover funds and boost compliance.  

Lilongwe City Mayor Esther Sagawa pledged unwavering political support for the council’s revenue drive, emphasizing development and sustainability goals. 

However, governance expert Latim Matenje argues that deeper issues—including corruption perceptions—must be addressed to restore public trust and payment compliance.  

"Transparency in revenue use is key," Matenje stressed. "Residents won’t pay if they doubt the system."  

With the new enforcement measures, the council hopes to turn the tide—but skepticism lingers among taxpayers.