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The Bulawayo business community and residents yesterday urged the Bulawayo City Council to come up with alternative sources of revenue instead of just relying on increasing tariffs and service charges.
Contributing during the 2015 first budget consultation meeting at the Small City Hall, business people and residents said the local authority should venture into income generating projects and also effectively utilise idle infrastructure to generate revenue.
The council which is regarded as the best run municipality in the country, however, admitted that it was failing in its service delivery due to limited revenue inflows and constrained manpower.
Many residents and businesses in the city are struggling to pay rates and rentals as a result of the prevailing negative macro-economic environment which has seen massive company closures and loss of jobs.
Residents feel any increase in tariffs will be catastrophic.
“We applaud the good work you do as council. However, you need to come up with alternative revenue sources instead of relying on rentals,” Bulawayo United Residents Association chairman, Winos Dube said.
“Given the huge demand for housing stands and building materials why can’t the council consider doing business in providing pit and river sand or quarry stones?
“Why not venture into coffin making? There’s so much council infrastructure that’s lying idle and not generating revenue.
“Why not utilise that to make money than burdening ratepayers?”
The participants implored council to improve its relations with ratepayers as they felt that at times council is very harsh when dealing with defaulters.
“Council should employ a different strategy based on ubuntu to entice defaulters to pay. Look at how you engage vendors. Do your police need to destroy people’s wares to enforce payment?
“Does council have a face when it disconnects water to people? It’s better to engage and show customer care and people will support you,” said Obadiah Moyo.
Participants alleged council staff at some institutions such as clinics of being rude to clients.
Others suggested that council should come up with incentives for loyal ratepayers.
Businesses, residents and government departments owe council millions of dollars in unpaid rates, rentals and service charges.
In response council directors acknowledged the residents’ concerns and pledged to improve operations for the benefit of the city.
Engineering Services director, Simela Dube, said the local authority would strive to create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
Bulawayo has set a budget of $158 million for 2015.
Online Reporter