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…we are on a cost recovery path
Wayne Ncube
City
of Masvingo acting Town Clerk Edward Mukaratirwa has poured a bucket of cold water
on residents who are objecting the 500 percent rates hike which came into
effect in February saying the council was not out to make profit but
implementing a cost recovery strategy.
Residents
have been at war with the city fathers over the rates hike with the Minister of
State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira wadding
into the fight demanding for an immediate rates review.
Mukaratirwa
has however maintained the council’s position saying the rates increase was the
only way out of the service delivery crisis which has seen basic services like
refuse collection and provision of clean water ground to a halt.
“The
intention of the increase is for provision of proper services to the residents
to ensure that they enjoy clean water supply, have street lights, roads are
good and well maintained, refuse collected regularly, fire brigade is well
equipped and the clinics have adequate medicine.
“Masvingo
City Council, like any other local authority, is a non-profit making
institution where services are based on cost recovery model and every service
charge is justified by a cost build-up,” said Mukaratirwa.
Under
the new rates, residents in the high density suburbs would have to part with an
average of $2 600 per month up from $472.
Mukaratirwa
said resident’s objections to the proposed budget were duly noted and forwarded
to the minister of Local government.
“The
budget was forwarded to Government for approval following consultations between
council and the residents towards the end of last year and the objections that
were received were attended to and recommendations were made to the Minister of
Local Government and Public Works July Moyo when he approved the city’s
budget,” said Mukaratirwa.
Residents’ organisations- Masvingo
United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) and Masvingo Residents Forum-
have drawn the line in the sand spoiling for war with the local authority.
