The Urban Council Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ) has advised City Councils across the nation to discuss rate hikes with residents so that both parties agree on rate hikes that had taken residents by surprise while on lockdown.
Speaking to CommuTalk UCAZ President Josiah Makombe also emphasized that rate hikes are inevitable.
“The hikes are necessary if service provision is to be kept afloat. You would see that most operational budgets are from 2018 when the currency was still on 1:1 with the USD and until now no adjustment had been made.
“Councils should however sit down with residents and see how reasonable hikes on rates can be effected. The hikes at this point are however inevitable,” Makombe said.
With a 400% increment; rates, supplementary charges and property taxes are set to be the largest contributors to council revenues.
Meanwhile, Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Association (MURRA) has already approached their City Council seeking reduction on hiked rates while Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) is yet to meet their local authority amid complaints.
“Council has pledged to hold a special council meeting by end of this week to come up with a resolution over the issue. We have been asked to put its submissions in writing before the special council meeting so that council can figure out where to cut costs and make adjustments to the budget if possible,” MURRA wrote in a statement after a meeting with the Masvingo City Council yesterday.
