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Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
GWERU City Council has appealed to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works for assistance to recover more than $42 million it is owed by Government departments in the city.
Briefing the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Mr George Magosvonge, on the challenges faced by the local authority last week, acting chamber Secretary Mr Vakai Chikwekwe said service delivery was being derailed by a debt of $72 million in unpaid rates and other services.
He said Government departments owed the bulk of council debt.
“We are owed over $72 million by residents, companies and Government departments. Government departments owe the bulk of the money and we are appealing to the Ministry to assist us recover the money so that we improve on service delivery. These Government departments owe over $42 million and there is no way we can get the money without your Ministry’s intervention, “ he said. Mr Chikwekwe said for residents, council had resorted to taking legal action to force them to pay their debts.
“Council is considering a lot of ways to recoup what is owed to it and these include court orders, garnish orders to recover money owed by residents and some stakeholders,” he said.
Mr Chikwekwe said there were 35 000 properties under the local authority which council was getting revenue from.
“We are expecting 6000 additional properties in the next five years to come,” he said.
Mr Magosvonge said payment for services was important for the local authorities to improve service delivery. He called on Government departments to devise ways to pay what they owe to local authorities. “Companies, Government departments, residents accessing council services should pay for them so that council has the funds to improve on service delivery,” Mr Magosvonge said.
He advised GCC to conduct a census and audit of its properties to realise maximum revenue for services offered to stakeholders accessing its services.
“In line with devolution we need you to know your GDP which will be factored into that of the province. It is important for us to know in detail because we want to see the extent of equalisation or marginalisation. So, let’s begin with the people we have, the infrastructure we have, “ Mr Magosvonge said.
He said it is Government’s goal to improve the livelihood of every Zimbabwean in rural or urban areas. “My ministry is about service delivery and we want the standard of living for the people to improve,” Mr Magosvonge said.
Online Reporter