City misses revenue collection target

the low revenue collection to workers’ depressed salaries, a poor economy, high unemployment and non-remittance of vehicle licensing fees.
Mr Ndemera said the US$64 million collected included debts dating back to 2009.
This implies that actual collections for the half year were much less.
Residents owe the city US$300 million.
The debt is much bigger than the year’s budget, implying the money has been accruing over the years.
“Highlights of the 2013 budget include the zero litter programme, revival of public toilets and completion of polyclinics, street lighting, traffic signals, pothole patching and resuscitation of the quarry station,” said Mr Ndemera.
He said the budget would address the conversion of more streets in the city centre into one-way lanes, buy 15 additional ambulances and the installation of generators at all district offices.
Council would ensure the decentralisation of the anti-retroviral treatment drugs to all polyclinics.
Mr Ndemera said additional computers would be bought for all the city’s revenue collection points.
The presentation was made to members of the media and residents’ associations.
This weekend the programme would be rolled out to suburban areas where residents would be given an opportunity to comment on the budget proposal.
Mr Ndemera said the 27 new refuse trucks the city approved to buy three months ago would be delivered within the next six weeks.
The delivery would mean each ward has a refuse truck.
Responding to questions, chamber secretary Mrs Josephine Ncube said residents owing the city should arrange payment plans that suit their pockets.
The city’s chief accountant Mr Tendai Kwenda said council was working to ensure actual water bills were sent out in place of estimates.
He said such bills would improve debt collection as residents would be more inclined to pay for actual consumption.
However, in the past the city has done similar programmes but failed to capture residents’ views and suggestions leading to objections and delays in approval of the budget by Government.