admin
Midlands Correspondent
GWERU City Council has introduced the Point of Sale System (POS) at its banking halls which will enable ratepayers to pay their bills using bank cards as opposed to cash. The move is part of efforts by the council to promote plastic money, which the central bank has been encouraging due to the cash shortages in the economy. In a statement, acting town clerk Edgar Mwedzi said the POS would cover all bank card holders on Zimswitch.
He said: “In line with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) thrust on the use of plastic money, GCC has taken the initiative to introduce you to the POS for your convenience. GCC is encouraging you, our valued clients to make use of this facility (POS) for all your council payments”.
The POS facility is covering all bank card- holders on Zimswitch and is available at all revenue halls (Mkoba, LGR, Senga, Mkoba 16 and Town House). “You can now pay your water, rates and all other services through swiping,” added Mwedzi.
The new measures are expected to go a long way in improving revenue inflows into council coffers. Council is failing to meet some of its obligations due to erratic revenue inflows, a development which has resulted in poor service delivery.
The local authority is six months in arrears in terms of workers’ salaries. Meanwhile, Gweru residents have to brace for a stringent water rationing regime due to low water levels at council’s major supply dam, Gwenoro and poor pumping capacity.
However, during a tour of Midlands industries, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa blasted the commission running the affairs of the local authority for sleeping on the job after they failed to collect a pump purchased by Lesaffre Zimbabwe for council to improve the pumping capacity.
derick.khumalo