High property rates in Chipata worry EPCCI.

High property rates are suffocating businesses in Chipata district.
Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry EPCCI President Thomas Mtonga has revealed in an interview with Breeze Business News.
Mr. Mtonga says that some businesses pay as high as 100,000 Kwacha in property rates, which is way above their business profits.
He says that this has resulted in some businesses facing closure as the more than 800 per cent increment effected by the local authority on the property rates is too much.
Mr. Mtonga noted that it is important for government to quickly intervene in the matter if the index for Zambians doing business in the country is to improve.
He says that although Chipata Municipal Council is in the process of revaluating properties, businesses currently still have to honour invoices of huge property rates issued by the local authority.