— Tribunal starts its sit on land leas holders saga in Luanshya District

THE Rating Valuation Tribunal has today started its two day sittings in Luanshya Town on the Copperbelt.

During its sittings the tribunal which has the powers of a court of law will hear cases of appeal from land Lease holders opposing Luanshya Municipal Council’s plan to increase land rates on residential, commercial and industrial properties.

ZANIS reports that Luanshya Municipal Council Public Relations Manager Gideon Thole confirmed this in an interview in Luanshya District, today.

Mr. Thole said the Tribunal would make a ruling on the proposed land rates increments or not after its sitting.

He said the Tribunal is holding its sittings in the Council Chamber at the Civic Centre shortly after a Special Full Council Meeting last month resolved to settle for a downwards adjustment of the proposed rates for residential, commercial and industrial properties.

A number of property owners opposed to the proposed rate increment percentage that had stated that the uniform rate levy for residential properties of 0.009 was too high especially for high cost residential properties.

According to Mr. Thole, the Councilors unanimously resolved to recommend that the rate levy be fixed according to the following Allocations, Low Cost at 0.009, Medium Cost at 0.006 and High Cost at 0. 004.

Other proposed rates percentage increments are: Power Transmission at 0.75,Commercial and Light industrial at 0.015, Heavy Industrial at 0.035 and Mining properties at 0.028.

The Council reduced the proposed rates percentage increments in order to make the payment of rates affordable by the various categories of property owners.

The eight member tribunal is being chaired by Inambao Nawa, the members also include Ministry of Justice permanent Secretary Patricia Jere, who is vice- chairperson and Commissioner of Land Barnaby Mulenga among other experts.