Suburban
Ward 7 residents in Avondale are expected to hand over their petition, in which they are demanding that the City of Harare should take action against the 20 biggest debtors in the ward and the 20 biggest debtors in Harare, to council today.
Suburban Reporter
The residents are demanding that the municipality takes action against 20 biggest debtors in Ward 7 and the 20 biggest debtors in Harare before the municipality deals with the rest of the debtors in the capital city.
The Ward 7 Residents Association also demanding that when action is taken against the biggest debtors, the residents should be kept informed.
The residents’ body further wants the City of Harare to make public, information about its total labour costs including the salaries and perks of executives at Town House.
Ward 7 Residents Association began coordinating the petition in April this year, which is addressed to the City of Harare and central Government through the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to meet their demands.
According to the association, figures from 2015 show that at that time 98 percent of the Ward 7 debt in unpaid rates and services was from 2 percent of the properties in the ward, which is about 60 out of 3 300 properties.
The association argues that it is absurd that the City of Harare wants to unleash debt collectors on poor residents while negating taking action against well-up debtors.
“We have been informed that we all need to pay our rates, as the income is needed to provide services. We know, from 2015 figures, that at that time, 98 percent of the Ward Seven debt to the City of Harare was from 2 percent of the properties in Ward Seven. (that is about 60 of 3300 properties). We have seen no new figures since then,” reads the petition drafted by the association.
The association said it was aware that the City of Harare had a right to sue over unpaid bills but wondered why the municipality plans to target residents owing small amounts.
“We are aware that the legal mechanisms exist for the city to sue and seize property over unpaid debts. We also know that the CoH has a legal department, and the national legislation already exists, to allow these court actions to be undertaken, as has been done in the past. It is with some amazement then that CoH (City of Harare) felt the need to contract out debt collection to a private entity, who actively targeted the smaller debtors. We wish it noted that we stand with the poor and lower income people, many our fellow residents, and are fully aware of the double burden of a stuttering economy and (the) Covid-19 pandemic.
“We citizens therefore hereby petition that action be taken – and we be kept fully informed of those actions – against the twenty largest debtors in Ward Seven and the twenty largest debtors in Harare,” further reads the petition.
The residents body said in view of these and other factors it does not find justification in any rates or service charge increases.
“Noticing that funds are not sufficient to allow for service delivery, with the income being only 32 percent of the charged rates, and further noticing that the city’s capacity to collect remains poor, as in 2015 – when we last saw any figures – 98 percent of the Ward Seven debt was owed by 2 percent of the properties.
“It is manifestly apparent that Harare citizens cannot and will not look kindly on any rates increase – especially in view of the scarcity of service delivery.
“It therefore seems only sensible and expedient to examine the other side of the situation. Where are the funds collected going?”
The residents body argues that instead an examination of the City of Harare’s expenditure should be carried out to understand the municipality’s failure to fund service delivery.
“We are given to understand that 80 percent of the City of Harare income is used in employment costs (CoH annual audits). We understand (from the ‘Justice Smith’ Ministerial audit report of 30 June 2016 and many other sources) the 13 senior executive take a large portion of this employment cost and that ‘salary’ is only 10 to 20 percent of their monthly employment cost to the citizens of Harare who pay these costs.
“We hereby petition to be given – and for it to be made public – all information on the amount of total employment costs, monthly and annually, incurred by the City of Harare on (a) the total of employees and (b) specifically for the senior executives,” further reads the petition. Former Harare Mayor and Ward 17 Councillor Ben Manyenyeni commended Ward 7 Residents Association for their effort urging the body to demand results and hoped the correct figures will be supplied.
“In the private sector this information (employment costs) can be produced within minutes. Petition the three political formations involved also – demand answers. Don’t be too excited about the executive payroll, there are just over 40 people out of 10 000. Demand that for similar jobs council should be halfway between Government pay and private sector pay – rule of thumb standard,” Mr Manyenyeni advised the association.
