Blantyre City Council yesterday sealed several properties in the commercial capital over unpaid ground rates in an enforcement exercise led by Mayor Isaac Jomo Osman.
Properties sealed included Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) head office in Kwacha, Pacific Limited Building and Nacala Logistics offices in Limbe as well as opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) offices at Chichiri and near the Clock Tower in Blantyre.
Osman, who led a contingent of councillors and senior council officials, said the move followed a notice issued last December giving property owners 21 days to settle their outstanding bills.
He said MHC owes the council about K433 million in city rates while MCP owes about K133 million, Nacala Logistics owes K68 million and Pacific Limited owes K52 million.
During the raid, the council also targeted Hotel Victoria and Victoria Gardens for owing K13 million and K6 million, respectively. However, the two hospitality establishments escaped closure after making payments on the spot despite querying some figures.
In an interview after the exercise, Osman said property owners still owe the council about K18 billion in city rates, a situation that is severely affecting service delivery in the city.
Osman waits. | Jonathan Pasungwi
He said: “Most of our roads in the city are in a dilapidated state and rehabilitating them is a challenge because property owners are holding our money.
“Even if you move around the city, you will find uncollected garbage. This is because we are struggling to repair our garbage collection equipment. What we want is for property owners to pay so that we can deliver the services that residents expect.”
Meanwhile, Nacala Logistics, which operates the country’s railway system, has lamented the council’s action, particularly the directive for staff working in the Control Centre of Operations to vacate the premises. The company said the centre is critical to railway operations.
“This centre is essential for the safe coordination and monitoring of train movements, and its uninterrupted operation ensures trains run safely and efficiently while preventing accidents along the railway line,” reads the statement in part.
MCP publicity secretary Jessie Kabwira said the erstwhile governing party is working to settle the outstanding bills.
“We are making efforts to ensure that all outstanding payments are cleared,” she said.
MHC spokesperson Ernestina Lunguzi asked for more time before commenting on the matter.
In a separate interview, Lilongwe City Council acting chief executive officer Hilary Kamera said property owners owe the council K14.8 billion in city rates. He said the council is currently holding town hall meetings to sensitise residents on the importance of paying city rates.
Mzuzu City Council spokesperson Macdonald Gondwe said property owners owe the council about K2 billion while Zomba City Mayor Christopher Jana said property owners in the old capital owe the council about K1 billion.
The Local Government Act gives councils powers to act, including sealing premises for noncompliance including non-payment.
