Govt reverses traffic fines

Cabinet has reversed the recently announced increase in fines and fees for traffic offences and services and reverted to the old ones.
Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili has told a media briefing in Lusaka today that Cabinet at its 23rd meeting considered the concerns raised by the general public especially bus and taxi operators that the newly introduced fines and fees were too high and were making the operations of their businesses difficult.
Mr. Kambwili has since advised traffic officers to begin charging the old fees.

He says the ministry of Justice will in due course issue a statutory instrument on reverting back to old fines and fees.
Mr. Kambwili adds that Cabinet during the same meeting approved the introduction of reservation schemes for poultry, quarrying, block making and domestic haulage which will ensure that selling of live birds on retail and wholesale markets, poultry production and processing, block making and quarrying investments are reserved for Zambians citizens or be citizen influenced.
He says Cabinet also looked at the report on the inquiry into salaries, salary structures and conditions of the public service meant to harmonize and rationalize salaries and pension reforms.
Mr. Kambwili says cabinet also approved the publication of the customs and excise amendment bill 2015 and subsequent introduction in Parliament during the current sitting.
He explains that the amendment will provide for the removal of customs duty on green houses and rose seedlings and the revision of the customs duty on rates applicable to the importation of motor vehicles and imposition of a surcharge tax on the importation of vehicles older than five years.

qfm