adminTanaka Mahanya
RESIDENTS have criticised the Harare City Council’s 2023 budget, saying it doesn’t state clearly what would be done to improve service delivery.
During the budget presentation, the council’s Finance and Development Committee chairperson, Councillor Costa Mhande, acknowledged that residents exhibited high levels of resilience during the 2022 financial year.
“We managed to stay afloat because some of the ratepayers were honouring their obligations,” he said.
Council has indexed its services in United States dollars, which they believe will maintain value.
“We encourage all clients that trade in foreign currency to consider paying in foreign currency to enable the City to sustain service delivery,” said Mhande.
However, City Fathers did not keep their end of the promise they are delivering poor services.
Uncollected refuse, sewage bursts and water challenges are the order of the day in most Harare suburbs.
Below are some residents’ reactions to the 2023 budget.
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Private players in refuse collection are charging less. Citizens have to pay for refuse collection which is not taking place. For example, in Hatfield there has been no service delivery for many years. – Javen Naresh.
The challenge is you are failing to collect refuse, but you continue to bill ratepayers. – Mai Rue.
The rates are too high. We can’t afford that. – Jeopardy Chineka.
Iyi yava private company. Your charges are too high for nothing. Government must come in and take over. We would gladly pay if you were doing your part. – Lovemore Vengesai.
You guys are useless. You have failed to collect refuse despite residents paying rates. – Henry Harry Makowa.
I believe if the City Fathers provide services, people will pay. It seems they want us to pay yet they do not do their part. – Ziggy Kugedera.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter