By 
A group of Lusaka residents has taken legal action against the Lusaka City Council (LCC), accusing it of failing to provide basic municipal services despite collecting millions in property rates and levies annually.
The plaintiffs, led by Mr. Allan Cedric Ellis and 18 members of the Eureka Park Residents Association (EPRA), filed a claim in the Lusaka High Court seeking to compel the council to account for public funds and fulfil its obligations under the Local Government Act.
In their statement of claim, the residents—who are all property owners in the greater Lusaka area—argued that the LCC, established under the Local Government Act No. 2 of 2019, has continuously failed in its legal duty to deliver essential public services, even as it raises substantial revenue from ratepayers.
“The local authority has, for the greater part of its existence, levied charges and collected property rates from residents across Lusaka, yet basic services such as waste management, road maintenance, and drainage infrastructure are grossly inadequate or altogether absent,” the lawsuit states.
The plaintiffs highlighted a consistent failure by the council to manage stormwater in several high-density areas, including Makeni, Kamwala, the central business district, Chunga, and Matero.
They argued that the lack of functional drainage systems has led to repeated flooding during rainy seasons.
Additionally, they pointed to the widespread absence of street lighting, deteriorating road networks riddled with potholes, and poorly maintained public spaces with overgrown grass as evidence of municipal neglect.
The residents also cited LCC’s failure to implement community development initiatives as required under Section 16(2) and the First Schedule of the Local Government Act.
As part of their legal relief, the plaintiffs are seeking:
A declaratory order affirming that LCC is in breach of its statutory duty to provide municipal services;
An order compelling LCC to deliver essential services, including street lighting, road maintenance, stormwater drainage, and public space upkeep, using revenue collected from residents;
A directive requiring LCC to publicly account for funds received from ratepayers;
A restraining order preventing LCC from collecting additional property rates and levies until a clear, practical, and verifiable service delivery schedule is presented.
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