City council offers incentives to industry

Pamela Shumba Chronicle Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council has moved to offer an array of incentives meant to enhance business confidence and growth.
Yesterday council announced, at a press conference, that it had reversed with immediate effect, penalties and interest charges on bills for the commercial sector.
Annual licence fees have also been reduced as council tries to lure investors while a once off 50 percent discount will be given to companies that will clear their accounts before June, this year.

Announcing the development before journalists and captains of industry, Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo said council was keen to see the city’s ailing firms revamped.

He said the resuscitation of industries would improve the wellbeing ordinary people and workers.
“In an effort to improve industrial and commercial activity in the city, council will with immediate effect offer incentives to companies that have supported us,” said Clr Moyo.

“Council will reverse penalties charged if the December, 2013 accounts are paid up. We will also reverse interest charged on the December 2013 balance on condition that the company clears its dues before June 30, 2014.”

Clr Moyo added: “We are also offering a once off discount of 50 percent on the company’s accounts balances as at December 31, 2013 upon payment of the account before June 30, 2014.”

He said the downward review of licence fees was in line with the local authority’s 2014 budget guidelines.
“The council, as at January 9, 2014 has reviewed downwards annual charges for business licences. The initial position for licences, which was adopted by council on November 6, 2013 did not take into consideration variations of shops above 500 square metres,” said Clr Moyo.

He said the new licence structure had broadened the size of land to be occupied by an investor at favourable charges.
Last year business people were paying $150 for an area between 20 and 50 square metres and according to the reduced charges they will now pay the same amount for an area between 31 and 100 square metres.

The council was charging $450 licence fees for an area between 150 and 300 square metres and now businesses will get 1, 001 to 2, 000 square metres for the same amount.

Business people who attended the press conference commended the city council for reaching out to them saying the move would go a long way towards enhancing business growth.