Eight local authorities have been successfully onboarded onto the Government Services Bus (GSB), Zambia’s digital payment ecosystem, enabling residents and businesses to make electronic payments for property rates, business levies, and permits.
According to data from the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, the expansion of the GSB has already facilitated the collection of approximately K21.7 million in revenue within just one month since its rollout in June. Economic expert Notulu Salwind has welcomed the integration of local authorities into the GSB, describing it as a significant step towards reducing financial leakages and improving revenue generation.
“The expansion of the Government Services Bus (GSB) to include local authorities is a commendable initiative. It will generate more revenue and reduce leakages that typically occur with physical payment methods,” Salwind told the Zambian Business Times (ZBT).
Salwindi, however, emphasized the need for capacity building to ensure the effectiveness of the digital payment system. “While the initiative is promising and has already demonstrated its potential to increase revenue, many users are not yet familiar with how the system operates. Without adequate training and sensitization, this could still create loopholes,” he cautioned.
He urged both end users and council employees to be adequately educated about the digital platform to facilitate smooth transactions and maximize its benefits. “More sensitization and education are needed for the public and for employees, who serve as ambassadors to the community and platform users,” Salwind added.
Salwindi also noted that future efforts should focus on extending the initiative to rural areas, ensuring that all communities benefit from increased transparency and efficiency in local authority revenue collection.
Article by Justine Phiri
