LCC Approves K732 Million Budget for 2024, Focusing on Development and Service Delivery
The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has greenlit a robust K732,090,165 budget for the fiscal year 2024, reflecting a 14% increment from the 2023 estimates.
In an official statement released by Chola Mwamba, the LCC’s Public Relations Manager, the increased budget is poised to enhance various developmental initiatives and service delivery.
The 14% increment, amounting to K90,930,864, is attributed to amplified allocations in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and owners’ rates, each constituting 36% of the total revenue. This strategic allocation aligns with the council’s commitment to fostering community development and infrastructure improvement.
The breakdown of revenue sources reveals a diverse funding structure. National support contributes approximately 18%, charges and fees make up 18%, licenses contribute 1%, levies account for 7%, permits represent 11.2%, and other income makes up 1.6% of the total budget.
Finance Committee Chairperson, Mr. Ponsilio Phiri, shared insights into the budgeting process, highlighting collaborative efforts between the committee and council management to tailor the budget to the available resource envelope.
The budget underwent rigorous scrutiny at both provincial and national levels to align with the Public Finance Management Act, the Planning and Budgeting Bill No. 22 of 2019, and the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP).
Mr. Phiri acknowledged key achievements in 2023, including the clearance of salary arrears for all council workers and advancements in payments and data capturing of businesses by the licensing unit.
However, he also pointed out challenges such as inadequate transport for inspections, enforcement, and revenue collection.
Her Worship, the Mayor of Lusaka, Ms. Chilando Chitangala, emphasized the need for prioritizing service delivery and fostering enhanced stakeholder engagements in 2024.
The mayor commended council management and the 38 civic leaders for their dedication to the ongoing projects, expressing confidence that the approved budget would contribute significantly to the city’s development.
With the adoption of the 2024 council budget, the Finance Committee, working closely with civic leaders, lauded council management for their effective project implementation. The budget signals a commitment to uplifting the quality of life for Lusaka residents through strategic investments and improved municipal services.
