Ministry of Local Government and Housing has published the guidelines on the management and utilisation of Constituency Development Fund (CDF). The guidelines are in the process of being revised. The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was approved by Parliament in 1995 to finance micro-community projects for poverty reduction.

Government has started reviewing the Rating Act to make it more responsive to the needs of the local authorities and property owners. Hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing Dr. Eustarkio Kazonga said following complaints from the public, the Government was confident that once the Act was reviewed and implemented, it would assist in addressing issues such as over evaluations.

“It is clear that the rating system needs to be overhauled to fulfill the current demands of the local Government. I am happy that the Rating Act is currently undergoing review to make it more responsive to the needs of the local authorities and property owners,” Hon. Minister said.

While it was appreciated that local authorities had been following the law in levying rates on properties that were captured on valuation rolls, the councils should have engaged the rate payers in providing relief to those with difficulties in meeting their obligations. It did not serve the councils any good to rush into grabbing people’s properties before exhausting all other peaceful avenues.

The revision of the Act was in line with the President’s directive recently on the need for the Ministry to devise and supervise a professionally acceptable, efficient and orderly way of valuing property rates.The reason for subjecting the valuation process to an independent tribunal was to ensure the property owners were protected from overzealous local authorities. The nation is assured that once the Rating Act is reviewed it would address issues which the public had raised.