Zambia (Lusaka): The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has approved a K732,090,165 budget estimate for 2024 on Thursday in the Lusaka Council Chambers of the Civic Centre.
Notably, the 2024 adopted budget is more than the 2023 budget by K90,930,864, representing a good increment.
It has been noted that the Council’s revenue base shall come from Owners rates and the Constituency Development Fund – CDF contributing 36% of the total revenue among others.
Civic leaders who sit on the Lusaka City Council Finance Committee Thursday morning successfully adopted the 2024 Council budget during a special Council meeting held in the Council Chambers of the Civic Centre.
In delivering her remarks, the Lusaka Mayor has categorically stated the need to prioritise service delivery going into 2024, adding that her office and all the thirty-eight (38) Civic leaders are keen on seeing enhanced service delivery and engagements between the local authority and all Key developmental stakeholders who include the ordinary citizenry.
The Civic leaders have commended Council management for the effective manner in which projects in the city are being spearheaded, adding that the local authority’s efforts must not go unnoticed.
Meanwhile, the Finance Committee Chairperson, who is also John Howard Ward 3 councillor Ponsilio Phiri, has cited the dismantling of salary arrears for Council workers as well as the increased capturing of businesses by the licensing unit as some of the major achievements scored in 2023.
The Finance Committee Chairperson, however, disclosed that these achievements were not without challenges as he pointed out inadequate transport to facilitate movements for inspections, enforcement and revenue collection as a key bottleneck.
The Finance Committee has since adopted the 2024 Council budget, having resolved to address all the challenges as highlighted.
However, residents of Lusaka are not happy with the budget system as they think the US$28,9 million budget is not enough to run a population of 3 million.
“Just about US$28,9 million… that’s a small budget for a growing city with a population of over 3 million…a greater portion, 60%+ salaries/benefits and operations…time to rethink revenue enhancement strategies,” said one of the locals.