KASAMA Municipal Council (KMC) has with immediate effect reduced by 30 per cent charges on business permit fees, levies and rental fees for their various properties for hire.

Kasama Town Clerk, Francis Nkhoma confirmed the development in an interview in Kasama yesterday. Mr Nkhoma said the council had reduced all categories of inspection fees and application forms by the same percentage.

He said the council decided to reduce the charges by 30 per cent across the board following complaints from the business community. The town clerk said the council had been receiving complaints from traders that council levies were too high.

Mr Nkhoma said this was in line with Government's resolve to reduce the cost of doing business. He said there was need to create an enabling environment for investment in Kasama and hoped that the measure taken by the council would help in achieving that objective.

Mr Nkhoma implored business houses and traders to take advantage of the reduction and rush to apply now as late applications would attract a penalty. He said the council had in September increased business permit fees, levies and other charges, as they had not been revised in a long time.

Mr Nkhoma said the council last increased charges in 1996 and 2001. Mr Nkhoma said it became difficult for the council to deliver quality services to communities in the district.

"We are a listening council and we have heard the cry of our business community on the current fees," he said.

Mr Nkhoma, however, said that the council had not reduced trade licence fees, as it had no powers to do so. He said trade licence fees were prescribed by an Act of Parliament and could only be revised by Government.