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strategy to force customers to pay up.
Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda yesterday said industry and commerce owed the city US$80 million, Government and State institutions US$70 million and residents US$20 million.
He said council would soon launch a blitz to recover its money.
Mr Masunda said he was working with town clerk, Dr Tendai Mahachi and city treasurer Mr Misheck Mubvumbi to recover the money.
“I am assisting the town clerk and city treasurer with a blitz targeting industry and commerce, which owe US$80 million,” he said.
At a full council meeting on Tuesday, councillors were worried over the failure by the council to remit its statutory obligations to the Harare Municipal Medical Aid Society.
As a result, workers and councillors are failing to access health services.
The information comes as evidence on the ground that the city is collecting less than US$8 million every month against a salary bill of US$4,5 million.
This implies that very little is spared for service delivery as the bulk of the collections go towards salaries and allowances.
As a result, council is failing to fulfill its numerous obligations including statutory payments, procurement of plant and equipment and collecting refuse.
“We may have to resort to naming and shaming measures, but we are anxious to avoid causing any embarrassment to our key stakeholders,” he said.
On the Government debt, he said, council was looking at setting off “the amounts owed against our statutory obligations much to the inevitable chagrin of Finance Minister (Tendai Biti) who frowns upon arrangements of this nature.”
Mr Masunda said once the money was paid, he would use US$20 million to buy 10 fire tenders that were badly needed by the city.
Harare Fire Brigade has of late been heavily criticised for failure to deal with fires in an around the capital.
“I need to lay my hands on at least US$20 million out of the US$170 million, which is owed to the City of Harare by industry and commerce (US$80 million), government (US$70 million), and mere mortals like you and me US$20 million to procure four fire engines for the main fire station, two each for the three satellite stations in Greendale, Waterfalls and Kuwadzana,” he said.
Online Reporter