— Veep in support of Levy Concept

Veep in support of Levy Concept

Livingstone, September, 29, 2014—VICE President Guy Scott says he supports the concept of levies because that is where the local authorities gain  their revenue.

Dr. Scott says  it was unfortunate  that during the previous governments ,the crop levy  was removed for the purpose of winning rural votes.

Dr. Scott says it is important that the farmers and traders to pay the levies because they put too much pressure on the roads when delivering their farm produce to market places.

The Vice President said this when he officially opened the 58th Local Government Association of Zambia annual conference and AMICA ALL annual general assembly held at Charisma Hotel in Livingstone.

Dr. Scott said  that  government  was  keen to have a strong local government system.

He was reacting to Local Government Association of Zambia   (LGAZ )  president Melena Sate who appealed for the restoration of crop and other related levies which he said were abolished for no reason and without consultation with the local authorities.

And Minister of Local Government and Housing Emmanuel Chenda announced that the long awaited Decentralization Policy has reached the final stage and implementation of key positions will commence in 2015.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Chenda says government has committed itself in the implementation of the national decentralization policy because it believes that the process will guarantee the participation of all citizens in decision making and enable the people to own their development programmed.