By CATHERINE NYIRENDA –

THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is disappointed that the Ministry of Lands has failed to collect over K1 billion in unsettled ground rates countrywide.
The Ministry of Lands has attributed the non payment of the ground rates amounting to K1,002,750,605 to high poverty levels in the country, among other reasons.
Lands Commissioner Barnabas Mulenga attributed high poverty levels in the country as one of the major reason why tenants were failing to pay ground rates.
Mr Mulenga told the Committee yesterday that some people found it difficult to raise the required amount to pay for the offer letters.
“Repossession has been difficult for properties that are developed and settled on,” Mr Mulenga said.
He also cited centralised offer payment system and lack of presence at the district level resulting in offerees to traveling long distances to the ministry headquarters or provincial centres in order to pay and accept offer letters.
“Some areas are in remote  places such that it becomes expensive to deliver these bills and we have issues of lack of transport to reach these areas,” he said.
PAC Chairperson Gertrude Imenda, who is also Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) Luena Member of Parliament (MP), wondered why the ministry does not work with other institutions such as Zesco, water utility companies or local authorities to distribute the bills.
Mr Mulenga said the idea of working with the council was explored but that some councils were not honest as they would collect the rates but not remit the money to the ministry thereby creating problems.
Lubanseshi Independent MP Patrick Mucheleka was prompted to ask if the statement by Mr Mulenga was a confirmation that poverty levels in the country were high hence the failure by people to pay.
“When we talk about high poverty levels in the country you say we are merely politicking, can you confirm that the picture is so, going by the statement you have just given us?” Mr Mucheleka asked.
Mr Mulenga said he could only confirm the poverty levels in the context of failure to pay ground rates as evidenced by the ministry’s written submission on the limitations.