Malawi tobacco companies owe Lilongwe City K45m
A list recently released by the Lilongwe City Council (LCC) on city rates defaulters has busted some of the country’s tobacco companies that are reportedly owing the city over K45 million.
According to the list is Africa Leaf—JTI which has a K4 316 986.00 debt.
Also on the list is Associated Tobacco Company (ATC) which owes the council K12 347 122 for its account number 220690000..
According to Associate Professor Mustapha Hussein of University of Malawi’s Chancellor College, the tobacco companies are lacking morals.
“It is very surprising. Responsible institutions and citizens will always check their accounts and honour pay their dues even in cases where there is a weak enforcement of revenue collection,” said Hussein.
He opined that there was need for the council to strengthen follow up mechanisms in order to deal with would be defaulters.
LCC is in total chasing for K2.9 billion which is owed by different individuals and institutions.
LCC chief executive Richard Hara has expressed his disappointment saying his office would make sure that the rates are paid in full.
“We’re surprised that these companies are appearing as defaulters. They are big companies which make big profits,” he said.
He warned that should the companies fail to pay their bills within 30 days after they were published in the press, LCC will sell their property in order to recover the money.
Among other things, Hara said, the city uses the money they collect to pay salaries and on other projects such as fixing of street lights.
The Nkhoma Synod of the CCAP drew public anger from their faithful when they booked an appointment with Pres. Peter Mutharika recently asking him to intervene in the K30 million bill they owe LCC in city rates.
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Koma Harayu kumasoko bwanji, afuna asiye milandu ya ma rates.
The truth about tobacco companies is that they have been paying money to the City but the monies were diverted to bankroll or Fund Parties starting from the time of UDF and now DPP. Secondly Mr Hara should tread carefully on his claims. Cheques for clearing City Rates from some companies were deposited into personal created accounts and money drawn from there. Right now the City is struggling to pay a concrete poles supplier for duplicated invoices coz the supplier happens to be a DPP gulu. I wish on Non Governmental Orgainisation should task itself to count the street concrete… Read more »
A MCP anazolowera kuzunza anthu powakakamiza kudula makadi komanso kupeleka nkhuku kwa kamuzu.
Lilongwe City Assembly is the one to blame. They just sit down in their offices and get salaries for doing nothing. Whosoever is responsible for this job at LCC should be fired first before you start pushing for these payments.
another one of Hara’s blunders. the street lights on area 25 road has NEVER worked since they were installed. the street lights are a too off how much does one concrete pole cost? why you put them so close to road. people getting their cars damaged by these stupid poles. take them out.take stupid traffic lights that never work out.too . no one on Malawi knows how to properly set traffic lights
MCP should be above reproach
Dpp mulibe or ndi ka structure ndiye mmati city bill ikupezani bwanji? Bill amapatsa amene Ali ndi structure.kkkk
DPP? Word on the street is that MCP is the party that is owing money.
blame city council. You mean a mere email couldnt follow up on the issue? This is a shame.
Mukufusa za MCP ngati ndani ? Ngati mulibe ma Investments inu aDPP zanu zimenezo .
Kkkkk siza DPP izi mudzinvetsa inu amnzathu. MCP ngati irinso ndi ngongole ku LCC ipereke basi.
MCP owe K8b