Patrick Chitumba [email protected]
GWERU residents could face an additional US$9,83 in monthly municipal charges under proposed 2027 tariffs, with residents’ associations warning that steep increases could worsen household debt and undermine council’s ability to collect revenue.
The proposed adjustments include a 60 percent increase in fixed monthly domestic water charges, from US$5 to US$8, across high-, medium- and low-density suburbs.
The fixed sewerage charge for high-density households is also proposed to rise from US$5 to US$8, while the lowest domestic water consumption tariff would increase by 37 percent, from US$0,51 to US$0,70 per cubic metre.
Refuse collection charges are also set for substantial increases, with the monthly fee for high-density households in the western suburbs rising from US$4,17 to US$8, representing an increase of about 92 percent.
The charge for domestic communal refuse collection is proposed to rise from US$3,34 to US$10.
For a high-density household in the western suburbs, the proposed increases in fixed water, sewerage and refuse collection charges would add US$9,83 to the monthly bill, before consumption-based charges and other applicable municipal fees.
The proposals, presented by Gweru City Council acting finance director Mr Michael Verenga during a budget consultation meeting last Friday, have drawn mixed reactions from residents’ representatives.
Mr Verenga said rising fuel prices, electricity charges and the cost of water treatment chemicals had increased the cost of providing municipal services, making tariff adjustments necessary.
“Fuel prices, electricity charges and the cost of water treatment chemicals have increased significantly, affecting our operations and service delivery,” he said.
However, Gweru Residents and Ratepayers’ Association executive director Mr Cornilia Selipiwe said council risked accumulating revenue on paper that it would struggle to collect if the increases were not matched with residents’ ability to pay.
He said while the local authority’s justification for adjusting tariffs was understandable, household disposable incomes remained under pressure.
“I think council’s justification is clear, and the reason why they want to increase the tariffs is also clear. But what I do not understand is how they intend to collect that revenue and how they think residents will be able to pay,” he said.
“Remember, residents owe councils quite a significant amount of money. The reason why residents are failing to pay is that they do not have disposable income.”
Mr Selipiwe said the growth of the informal economy had further complicated revenue collection, warning that higher tariffs could increase outstanding bills without necessarily improving council’s cash flow.
“What it basically means is that council will have a lot of money on paper, but money that it cannot liquidate. That is the greatest challenge that we are going to face.
“A lot of people will have their debts ballooning, but council will not be able to collect,” he said.
He urged council to consider subsidies for vulnerable households and explore alternative revenue-generating projects instead of relying heavily on tariff increases.
Mr Selipiwe also questioned whether the proposed adjustments would result in significant improvements in water supplies, arguing that the city’s challenges were rooted in longstanding infrastructure deficiencies requiring substantial investment.
He said residents needed assurance that higher charges would translate into more reliable services.
Gweru United Residents and Ratepayers Association secretary-general Mr Reward Mhuri said the proposed adjustments were largely driven by rising operational costs and the need to rehabilitate the city’s water and sewerage infrastructure.
He said the tariff proposals were linked to specific service delivery commitments, including rehabilitation of water and sewer treatment plants, improved pumping capacity and reduction of treated water losses along the distribution network.
“Indeed, the increases in water tariffs are meant to achieve specific objectives. Council guarantees rehabilitating water and sewer plants. Gwenhoro and Pakamisa pump stations will increase pumping capacity from 12 hours to 20 hours per day.
“Water network rehabilitation will reduce leaks of treated water. Too much treated water is lost along the way,” said Mr Mhuri.
He said residents’ associations had examined the proposals and were prepared to support adjustments where there was sufficient justification and clear commitments to improved service delivery.
Mr Mhuri, however, described the proposed 60 percent increase as excessive, suggesting an adjustment of between 30 and 40 percent would be more reasonable.
