Ruvarashe
Chichera
Chichera
MASVINGO
– The
business community has breathed a sigh of relief after the local authority
announced that there will be a revision of the proposed 2020 licence fee
increases which had caused immense pain on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
– The
business community has breathed a sigh of relief after the local authority
announced that there will be a revision of the proposed 2020 licence fee
increases which had caused immense pain on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Masvingo City Council
has already advised the business community to approach licensing offices at the
Civic Centre to get new figures.
has already advised the business community to approach licensing offices at the
Civic Centre to get new figures.
Towards the end of last
year, council announced new business licence fees with an average of 4 000
percent increase across the sectors but it has now been reversed.
year, council announced new business licence fees with an average of 4 000
percent increase across the sectors but it has now been reversed.
“The City of Masvingo
hereby advises its valued stakeholders that it has revised downwards previously
advertised 2020 licence fees after considering concerns raised from various
stakeholder groups. All those affected are advised to approach our Licensing Offices
at the Civic Centre for rectification…” reads part of the noticed published
recently in the media.
hereby advises its valued stakeholders that it has revised downwards previously
advertised 2020 licence fees after considering concerns raised from various
stakeholder groups. All those affected are advised to approach our Licensing Offices
at the Civic Centre for rectification…” reads part of the noticed published
recently in the media.
Last year, TellZim gathered
and published the reaction of many small business people in town who expressed
hopelessness saying they will never afford to pay the new fees and will have to
operate illegally.
and published the reaction of many small business people in town who expressed
hopelessness saying they will never afford to pay the new fees and will have to
operate illegally.
People were also made
aware of the window period offered by council to write letters of objection to the
rate hikes so that the required number of letters needed to force a revision
could be reached.
aware of the window period offered by council to write letters of objection to the
rate hikes so that the required number of letters needed to force a revision
could be reached.
Masvingo City Council
chamber secretary, Vitalis Shonhai confirmed then that people were submitting their
letters of objection through the formal channels.
chamber secretary, Vitalis Shonhai confirmed then that people were submitting their
letters of objection through the formal channels.
“I can confirm some
people have already sent their letters. The 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,” said Shonhai.
people have already sent their letters. The 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,” said Shonhai.
Owing to the high
default rate in the payment of licence fees among small business people at the
beginning of the year, the police had started taking advantage of the situation
to arrest the defaulters and release them upon payment of bribes.
default rate in the payment of licence fees among small business people at the
beginning of the year, the police had started taking advantage of the situation
to arrest the defaulters and release them upon payment of bribes.
