Lusaka City Council tells court shop owners at InterCity Bus Terminus were subletting trading spaces

Lusaka City Council (LCC) has submitted to the High Court that some of the shop owners at InterCity Bus Terminus contesting the increase in rentals have been subletting their trading space for more than K2000.

The defendant disputed the claims that it had increased levies from K200 to K1,500, and contended it had increased to K750.

This is in a matter where 103 shop owners at Intercity Bus Terminus want the Council to reduce monthly rentals from the exorbitant K1,500 to K300.

Viora Mayobo and 102 others who are being represented by Messrs Muleza Mwiimbu and Company are aggrieved by the shock increment of the levies from K200 to K1,500 per shop.

The 103 are seeking the High Court’s order to compel LCC reduce the monthly rentals to K300.

The litigants also seek an interim injunction stopping the defendant from collecting K1,500 until the conclusion of the matter.

They are demanding damages for inconvenience and loss of business plus interest on all the monies found due.

LCC defended itself stating that the said revised trading levy of K750 per month was applicable to all traders trading at Intercity Bus Terminus area and that the litigants were not the only ones.

“The defendant will aver at trial that some of the Plaintiffs were subletting the said trading spaces and were charging fees ranging between K2,000 to K2,500 contrary to the terms and conditions given to the Plaintiffs by the defendant,” it stated.

LCC argued that it had statutory power to revise levies and fees to regulate trading within its jurisdiction.

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