Godfrey Mtimba
Clayton Shereni
MASVINGO –
Minister of Finance Professor Mthuli Ncube recently announced that the country
has recorded a budget surplus of almost RTGS$500 million in the first quarter
of the year 2019, further claiming that the country was on the right path to
recovery.
Minister of Finance Professor Mthuli Ncube recently announced that the country
has recorded a budget surplus of almost RTGS$500 million in the first quarter
of the year 2019, further claiming that the country was on the right path to
recovery.
After
the announcement by Treasury that public accounts had recorded a successful
half a billion RTGS dollar surplus, local residents and the civil society have
called upon the government to use the purported surplus to settle its debts
with various local authorities in the country.
the announcement by Treasury that public accounts had recorded a successful
half a billion RTGS dollar surplus, local residents and the civil society have
called upon the government to use the purported surplus to settle its debts
with various local authorities in the country.
These
sentiments were expressed during a Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers
Alliance (Murra)-organized service delivery-assessment workshop.
sentiments were expressed during a Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers
Alliance (Murra)-organized service delivery-assessment workshop.
The
workshop was organised in partnership with the Local Governance Community and Capacity
Building and Development Trust (LGCCBDT).
workshop was organised in partnership with the Local Governance Community and Capacity
Building and Development Trust (LGCCBDT).
Speaking
during the workshop, one resident told city fathers to engage seek the settling
of the debts owed by various government departments.
during the workshop, one resident told city fathers to engage seek the settling
of the debts owed by various government departments.
“We
have heard the Minister of Finance saying government has recorded a surplus so
we urge our council to engage the government to pay their debts using that
surplus money. The council should not just make efforts to get their money and
disconnect water when it comes to residents but leaving those who owe big
debts,” said a resident.
have heard the Minister of Finance saying government has recorded a surplus so
we urge our council to engage the government to pay their debts using that
surplus money. The council should not just make efforts to get their money and
disconnect water when it comes to residents but leaving those who owe big
debts,” said a resident.
City
of Masvingo Mayor Collen Maboke said the city had approached some arms of the
government who were forthcoming but said it was hard for them to disconnect
water supply at these institutions.
of Masvingo Mayor Collen Maboke said the city had approached some arms of the
government who were forthcoming but said it was hard for them to disconnect
water supply at these institutions.
“We
approached almost every government institution which owe us and some of them
paid partially but it is hard for us to disconnect services at their premises,”
said Maboke.
approached almost every government institution which owe us and some of them
paid partially but it is hard for us to disconnect services at their premises,”
said Maboke.
Murra
spokesperson, Godfrey Mtimba said they have always encouraged council to
confront their biggest debtor not the struggling residents who owe them small
amounts.
spokesperson, Godfrey Mtimba said they have always encouraged council to
confront their biggest debtor not the struggling residents who owe them small
amounts.
“We
have always encouraged city fathers to focus their efforts in engaging
government to pay its debts rather than all their energy targeting and
victimizing residents whose debts are very small.
have always encouraged city fathers to focus their efforts in engaging
government to pay its debts rather than all their energy targeting and
victimizing residents whose debts are very small.
“Government
has the biggest debt through its institutions and should just pay so that
residents are not forced to subsidies it as they are the ones paying,” said Mtimba.
has the biggest debt through its institutions and should just pay so that
residents are not forced to subsidies it as they are the ones paying,” said Mtimba.
Many
institutions including the Army, Police, prison and Education owe Masvingo City
council almost 30 million dollars in unpaid water bills.
institutions including the Army, Police, prison and Education owe Masvingo City
council almost 30 million dollars in unpaid water bills.
The
government has been widely criticized for not paying its debts to various
service providers including local authorities and the country’s power supplier
the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authorities (Zesa).
government has been widely criticized for not paying its debts to various
service providers including local authorities and the country’s power supplier
the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authorities (Zesa).
