Chipata Municipal Council to embark on data capturing in unplanned settlements.

Chipata Municipal Council will soon embark on data capturing exercise in unplanned settlements in Chipata town.
Town Clerk Davies Musenge told Breeze News that the exercise is aimed at numbering and drawing of the map of Chipata town.
Mr Musenge says that there is need to come up with the numbering and drawing of these compounds and names of the owners because half of Chipata town consists of unplanned settlements.
He says to start with council staff will hold meetings with grass root leaders who know their areas well adding that each resident will have his or her house checked and numbered before determining the land record charge.
Mr Musenge says each house will be evaluated according to its status and size and then the council staff will tell the owner the land charge which is in three categories.
He says that the high cost house will be in the 1,200 kwacha category, medium cost in 600 kwacha and low cost in the 250 kwacha category respectively.
Mr Musenge says the exercise is meant to empower the citizens with land records because residents have been facing challenges in accessing loans from lending institutions when they are asked to produce collateral.
He added that residential houses should be accessible either by a vehicle or wheelbarrow in case there is need to render help to that particular resident in times of challenges.