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Confusion Rocks Revenue Collection in Chikwawa

Kamoto promised to end the woes soon Kamoto promised to end the woes soon - pic by Christopher Sande

Mess has rocked revenue collection activities in Chikwawa as the council is reported to be using market sweepers as revenue collectors.

At the meeting organized by Local Government Accountability and Performance on Thursday, Chikwawa District Council Secretariat and ward councilors revealed that such circumstances have forced the unqualified workers to refuse to surrender over 3 million kwacha which was collected in various markets, protesting council failure to give them their wages for six months.

They said there are numerous loopholes that are impacted negatively on revenue collection in the district in the 2019/2020 Financial Year.

Chairperson for Ngabu market, Austin Bvumbe, Vice Chair for Dyeratu market, Ireen Mailosi and Kaenda Chikaluma for Livunzu market told the meeting that it is pathetic that most markets lack basic necessities like water and toilets which makes people boycott paying market fee.

"We are worried that those that are collecting money in the markets are sweepers of which the majority are primary school drop outs," said Bvumbe.

The Council’s Director of Finance, Steve Kanyerere, also revealed that lack of money to pay revenue collectors for the past six months has been a huge burden to the collection exercise.

Council' Chairperson, Clement Kamoto, promised to sort out the challenges and create a vibrant revenue collection team to enhance transparency and accountability.

"I believe erratic collection of revenue in markets will end soon," said Kamoto.

For instance, Nchalo market was budgeted to collect 26 million kwacha in 2029/2020, but only 4 million kwacha has been collected to this far.

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