Traders draw battle line against Lusaka City Council over levy hike, head to court again

The Lusaka High Court is set to hear a petition filed by 103 traders operating at Intercity Bus Terminus against the Lusaka City Council (LCC) over a sharp hike in monthly levies for their trading spaces, which rose from K200 to K1,500 per shop.

Led by Viora Mayobo, the traders are seeking a court order to compel LCC to reduce the levies to K300, arguing this amount is fair given they financed the construction of their permanent shops after being allocated temporary spaces by the council in 2019.

The traders claim that after investing in their shops, LCC abruptly reclassified the charges as “rentals” in 2023, significantly increasing the fees.

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Efforts to negotiate a reduction or gradual adjustment have reportedly been dismissed, prompting the traders to seek legal recourse.

They are also demanding compensation for business losses and inconvenience, alongside interest on any recoverable amounts.

A similar lawsuit initiated by the traders in 2023 was later abandoned.

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