Suburban
Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter
THE City of Harare has dismissed reports claiming it has increased its rates and service charges by 400 percent saying Government would not have approved such a steep rise.
Speaking at a City of Harare budget stakeholder meeting held on Monday at Town House, acting town clerk Engineer Phakamile Moyo said such messages are spread by people who intend to cause disharmony between council and ratepayers.
He applauded all those who participated in the 2022 budget formulation.
“It has been a difficult few years where most interactions were done online.
“I would like to applaud residents that participated in those engagements and call upon those that did not join in to work with council.
“Your council remains committed to working with all stakeholders for the betterment of our livelihoods.
“That is why we formulated a budget that was pro-poor,” said Eng Moyo.
He said the traffic fines are meant to deter motorists from committing offences on the roads and ensuring order in the city.
Eng Moyo’s comment on traffic fines followed an outcry over the new fines for traffic offences.
“We must note that fines are paid by guilty people and some people have lived in the city for their entire lives without paying such.
“They are easily avoidable if someone sticks to road rules.
“We have had the challenge of battling traffic congestion in the central business district and some of it is caused by drivers who do not respect road rules,” he said.
According to a presentation made by council officials at the meeting, 2022 budget will focus on, among other things, water and sanitation, the stabilisation drive agenda, small and medium enterprise growth and development and harnessing information communication technologies towards the smart Zimbabwe agenda.
Under the ZWL$41,8 budget, (the WASH programme) water, sanitation and hygiene will be allocated ZWL$18,298 billion while ZWL$4,267 billion will go towards roads with social services receiving ZWL$8,834billion.
Part of the WASH funding will be used to upgrade four filters at Morton Jaffray Waterworks as well as replacing and upgrading 6,9 kilometres of pipes from its trunk mains.
Pipe replacement will be undertaken in a number of suburbs including in Avondale, Eastlea, Glen View and Highfield. At least 30 000 domestic water meters will also be replaced using funds from the budget in Marlborough, Hillside, Eastlea, Mabvuku and Tafara.
The budget also makes provision to upgrade 2,5km of the corroded 250mm to 450mm steel pipeline from the National Defence University to the Marlborough Ponds.
Bio-filters at the Firle sewage plant will be rehabilitated through the installation of stainless steel rotating assembly and arms while the bio-filters at the Crowborough sewage plant will be repaired through the installation of stainless steel rotating assembly and arms.
The digesters and associated heater exchange system including related pipework for power generation at Firle will be also repaired using funds from the budget.
The city hopes to produce an average of 375megalitres of water per day with a target to increase water production to 562 mega-litres a day by December 31 2022 upon full implementation of its capital expenditure programme.
“Funding will be from council’s own revenue, IGFT, loan and donation,” said council budget finance department accounts head Mrs Takatadzeyi Musere.
The city targets to reduce non-revenue water to 58 percent from the current 62 percent through capital outlay interventions.
“The tariff resulting from this budget is equity based and allow full cost recovery net of grants and donations. Water treatment chemicals will be primarily priced in USD and therefore will be directly affected by prevailing exchange rates. The proposed capital outlay will contribute to sustained service delivery efficiency,” said Mrs Musere.
Council says emphasis an improvement on its WASH programme helps the city to attract investment and therefore create employment.
A reduction in water borne diseases outbreaks will also impact positively on the health budget while restoring confidence of the rate payer and triggering compulsion to pay for services.
“Payment of services will improve overall cash flows and allow city to deliver in all other facets thus creating sustainability,” she said.
The rates have one up by between 37,5 percent and 67 percent depending on location of one’s property. The new rates and charges for an average high density householder rise to $2 387, up from $1 736 while an average low density suburb family will have its monthly bill rise to $7 630, up from last year’s $4 558 excluding water charges because these depend on a household’s usage.
Harare residents have been complaining that the rates and service charges are way above what they can afford while at the same time services are not being provided.
Ratepayers are also concerned over the municipality’s reliance on estimates particularly on water bills instead of actual figures from meter readings.
