Masvingo City Council offices
Ruvarashe Chichera
MASVINGO – The local business community is fuming over the 2020
proposed licence fees proposed by Masvingo City Council and that are likely to
be put to effect starting in January.
proposed licence fees proposed by Masvingo City Council and that are likely to
be put to effect starting in January.
The business community is urging
each other to write formal objections to the town clerk or else the new rates
will be instituted starting from January 01, 2020.
each other to write formal objections to the town clerk or else the new rates
will be instituted starting from January 01, 2020.
Council has proposed an average 4
000 percent licence fees hike which will see
juice card vendors’ fees rising from
$210 to $3360, EcoCash agents from $510 to $8 160, traditional healers
from $300 to $4 800, barbershops and for phone shops from $510 to $8 160.
000 percent licence fees hike which will see
juice card vendors’ fees rising from
$210 to $3360, EcoCash agents from $510 to $8 160, traditional healers
from $300 to $4 800, barbershops and for phone shops from $510 to $8 160.
The business community is arguing
that the proposed rate increases are grossly exorbitant, thus unfair.
that the proposed rate increases are grossly exorbitant, thus unfair.
“The proposal of the council is
unreasonable. They should consider that the business community is playing its
part to the nation by employing people. They therefore should not make life
hard for the business people but rather complement their efforts,” said one businessman.
unreasonable. They should consider that the business community is playing its
part to the nation by employing people. They therefore should not make life
hard for the business people but rather complement their efforts,” said one businessman.
Masvingo City Council chamber
secretary, Vitalis Shonhai told TellZim News that council felt the proposals
were justified but was quick to add that people had the freedom to make formal
objections.
secretary, Vitalis Shonhai told TellZim News that council felt the proposals
were justified but was quick to add that people had the freedom to make formal
objections.
He went to advise that people
should not waste time complaining from outside but should rather follow
procedure by writing to the town clerk before deadline.
should not waste time complaining from outside but should rather follow
procedure by writing to the town clerk before deadline.
“That budget is only a proposal
and it will only work if people agree to it. I urge people to take the right
channel and communicate through formal processes rather than to waste time
talking about it in WhatsApp groups. I can confirm some people have already
sent their letters,” said Shonhai.
and it will only work if people agree to it. I urge people to take the right
channel and communicate through formal processes rather than to waste time
talking about it in WhatsApp groups. I can confirm some people have already
sent their letters,” said Shonhai.
Business person Loveness Chimera,
in her letter of objection to the town clerk, makes it clear that she cannot
afford the proposed fee hikes.
in her letter of objection to the town clerk, makes it clear that she cannot
afford the proposed fee hikes.
“I cannot afford paying the
money. We did not agree to the budget the day you came to meet us so I reject
the proposal,” she argues.
money. We did not agree to the budget the day you came to meet us so I reject
the proposal,” she argues.
