Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
HARARE councillors have called for district offices to be allowed to use money that they receive as payments from ratepayers on expenses that relate to the wards, especially street lighting.
This comes amid indications that two people have died while being mugged in Ward 15 because council has not been buying tokens to recharge the smart meters fitted on the street lights.
Ward 15 Councillor Tafadzwa Machirori told a council meeting that two people died in his ward while being mugged. Another was hospitalised with injuries sustained during the mugging.
“Since March, the ward has been in darkness and muggers are taking advantage of that,” he said.
Ward 14 Councillor Costa Mhande said it was folly for the council to fail to provide a service when ratepayers were paying for it.
“It doesn’t make sense that people are paying, yet they are staying in darkness. They have begun asking what the money appearing on the bill is for,” he said.
Cllr Mhande suggested that the council should consider making bulk monthly payments to Zesa for the lights.
Ward 16 Cllr Denford Ngadziore said there is a need for council to engage Zesa on the issue of street lights.
“There is a need for a discussion with Zesa to help manage this fund after proper processes are done,” he said.
“In my view, it is going to add more value, otherwise, we will reach December collecting money for nothing.”
Cllr Mande said the Department of Works has a database for all lights and meters.
“They know the number of tower lights or meters per district. So I’m proposing that we allocate resources as per their schedule,” he said.
“I spoke to Engineer Chigariro, he has got the figures with him, all district officers know how much they need per month to top up their metered tower lights.
“I am suggesting the finance department release that money every month on a specific date so that we don’t have a blackout in our wards,” he said.
Ward 4 Cllr Maburutse suggested having solar tower lights in Mbare, which will help with visibility when there is no electricity.
Online Reporter