dyton mupawaenda
Talent Gore
HARARE lacks the resources to maintain and upgrade existing infrastructure, leading to deterioration and service disruptions, Harare City Council finance chairperson, Councillor Costa Mande, has said.
Presenting the 2025 budget, Cllr Mande said the repairs and maintenance budget is less than 15 percent of the total and the cash flows hinder the implementation of programmed maintenance.
He said debtors stood at ZWG 2 747 billion as at 30 September 2024 from the 31 August 2024 position of ZWG2 550 billion.
Debtors increased by 9.95 percent from previous month position growth.
The debt configuration is as follows, commerce, industry 66.13 percent domestic 26.63 percent government, 3.09 percent and Dormitory towns 3.91 percent.
“The lack of resources is exacerbated by the unwillingness of customers to pay,” he said.
“Measures to enforce payment are being instituted but the collection efficiency remains below the optimum levels.”
Cllr Mande added that the City had insufficient plant and equipment to deliver essential services such as water, sanitation and waste management.
“For the City to operate effectively in the waste management sector, 51 refuse compactors are required.
“Forty five to serve the 45 wards, and six to act as buffer tor repairs and maintenance.”
He said the City of Harare has been experiencing rapid growth, placing a strain on existing infrastructure and services.
“Local authorities abutting the City have been developing from the boundaries this has put pressure on Harare in terms of provision of water and other services,” Cllr Mande said.
Online Reporter