By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, December 18, Mana: Senior Chief Chisemphere of Kasungu says modern market structures are crucial in attracting businesses, which could help councils to collect more revenue for financing development initiatives.

The chief made the remarks on Tuesday when Kasungu District Council Finance Service Committee toured various development initiatives including Chamama Market sheds in Kasungu North East Constituency.

Chisemphere said good market structures have potential to attract more business people and makes the council generate the much-needed revenue.

“People would be willing to pay market fees if they operate their businesses in good structures like these and that means more revenue for the council which can help fund other development projects.

“We just have to speed up finalizing the related facilities such as the ablution block so that the market becomes operational,” Chisemphere said.

He said the eastern side of the district is a production hub for most agricultural commodities such as Irish potato, maize and vegetables hence requiring modern market facilities to facilitate trade.

Chairperson for the market, Ajibu Mpalume, said while the vendors are excited about the project, they are worried that the facility is taking too long to become functional.

“We understand that electricity is not yet connected and that the toilets are not yet ready. Therefore, our appeal to authorities is that they should hasten to put those facilities so that the market becomes functional.

“This is a busy marketplace where a lot of agricultural produce that feeds the district is sold. We requested for a proper structure where we can be conducting our businesses and we are happy that we got one,” Mpalume said.

Funded under the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD), the first phase of the project cost K115 million to erect the market sheds while in the second phase, the council has spent K70 million on the ablution block still under construction.

In a separate interview, Senior Planning Officer for National Local Government Finance Committee, Charity Kaunda, advised councils to adopt a complete package approach ensuring that all basic components of projects are available to make the constructed facilities functional immediately after they are completed.

“At the same time, we are also promoting co-financing. If we know that the GESD resources cannot accommodate all the components, councils should source additional financing through the Constituency Development Fund or District Development Fund,” Kaunda said.

Since the inception of GESD project in 2021, Kasungu District Council has received close to K3.7 billion in performance-based grants under the project.

Director of Public Works for Kasungu District Council, Davie Chigwenembe, said some of this year’s funds will go towards purchasing support items that will open the already completed structures for use.