Blantyre City seals properties over rates
Blantyre City Council officials yesterday went on the prowl and sealed some business premises and public property in a bid to enforce payment of outstanding city rates estimated at K600 million.
The council sealed several private properties housing businesses in Limbe and Blantyre as well as public properties, including Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Kuhes) Sports Complex—formerly College of Medicine Sports Complex, Malawi College of Health Sciences and Christian Services Committee (CSC) House.
In an interview on the sidelines of the operation, Blantyre City Mayor Wild Ndipo, who led one of the teams, said there are about 700 property owners owing the council about K600 million.
He said property owners are supposed to pay city rates, ranging from K5 000 to about K15 000 every six months, depending on the value of the property.
The council’s director of commerce, trade and industry Denis Chinseu said some property owners fail to honour the payments.
He said: “The operation is ongoing and there are many other properties we are going to close for not paying city rates. We have started with property owners that owe the council huge sums of money.”
Blantyre City Deputy Mayor Joseph Makwinja also led another team.
The council’s list indicates that Kuhes Sports Complex owes about K106.8 million—the highest to date while Malawi College of Health Sciences owes about K28 million and CSC House K17.3 million.
Ndipo said the council resorted to the operation after noting that many property owners were not coming forth to pay city rates.
He said the council relies on money from city rates to provide some services in Blantyre.
Said Ndipo: “We actually summoned them, but they din’t pay the city rates. So, we said let’s go and close these businesses, because after all, whatever the garbage we collect from these buildings, it’s city council that does that. When there is fire, they call city council.”
Malawi College of Healath Sciences principal Charles Mulilima could not be reached while Kuhes assistant registrar responsible for administration Orama Lipenga did not pick up on several attempts.
