Harare signs contract with billing system supplier 

Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter

THE City of Harare has signed a contract with a supplier of an Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP) and the service provider is on the ground readying to roll out the billing system.

Speaking at a special council meeting held on Thursday, town clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango said the suppliers of the billing system were preparing to roll out the system while payment modalities are being worked out.

“They have had an initial meeting with our ICT and finance so that they can start.

“So what they have submitted is a programme of the works.

“And the nine modules that we chose as the initial modules are all captured on that programme and it is going until February 2025.

“But we have said let’s start with the critical modules which they have done,” he said.

Eng Chisango said the suppliers have started with the journal ledger, receipting and billing.

“So as far as this one is concerned, it’s work in progress. I think it’s just issues of payment which they are discussing with finance. They are on the ground as per the current information to start work.”

Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume said at least some progress is being made and that should significantly help the council in getting its 2024 budget approved.

Government recently rejected the City of Harare’s 2024 budget because the council was operating without a billing system while the municipality had also failed to meet targets set out in the local authorities blue-print launched last year by President Mnangagwa to guide all councils to improve service delivery.

Harare has been operating without a billing system since 2019 when it terminated its agreement with South African company Quill Associates, who used to supply the BIQ billing system. Since then residents have been questioning the city’s bills with Mayor Mafume and other senior council officials admitting they were punishing paying residents by inflating their bills to cover the deficit of defaulters. Some residents are boycotting paying bills saying they cannot continue paying for services that are not provided.