HLB turns corner with improved revenue, service delivery

Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
HWANGE Local Board (HLB) chairperson, Councillor Morrison Mafa has expressed satisfaction with the improved revenue collection, saying it was premised on the growing confidence by ratepayers in the council’s pursuit of improving service delivery.

In the HLB recent newsletter, Clr Mafa acknowledged that the council’s financial coffers have since the beginning of the year been on a positive footing, buoyed by improved service delivery.

He said: “I must say I am very satisfied with the increase in revenue we are witnessing. It shows that ratepayers are slowly gaining confidence and trust in us. As you might be quite aware, one of the reasons that led to the rejection of our 2024 budget was ineffective revenue collection, but I am glad we are now turning over a new leaf.”

HLB’s revenue collection has risen from a low of 18 to about 40 percent.

The council chairperson, however, highlighted the need for the council to exhaust all means necessary in its bid to recover its debts from perennial rate defaulters.

Clr Mafa said some unscrupulous individuals have told themselves that they will not pay rates.

“Lest they forget that as a local authority, we are empowered by the Constitution to make everyone pay rates, do not be misled or threatened by these misguided elements,” he said.

He said the onus was on all the council’s departments to work tirelessly to turn around the fortunes of the local authority, while also ensuring improved service delivery to citizens.

The chairperson said he was particularly pleased with the efforts being put by the Engineering Department towards improving service delivery.

“I am personally impressed with what the Engineering Department has been doing. We have all seen the splendid road maintenance work, which has been carried out so far.

“This is despite the fact that we do not have much finances in our coffers. We are surely improving on the service delivery side and this has given our ratepayers the impetus to pay,” added Clr Mafa.

He said much has to be done towards improving street lighting, especially in medium and low densities while also highlighting the need to improve on the ease of doing business by the council.

Meanwhile, the number of property owners that have complied with the directive by HLB to demolish their illegal structures is very pleasing, an official said.

HLB acting director of Spatial Planning and Land Management, Mr Themba Sibanda said out of 46 illegal structures identified during an exercise by the planning section about a year ago, 26 of the buildings have been pulled down by their owners in compliance with the council’s development control policy.

“Out of 46 property owners who had illegal structures, 26 have complied after we engaged them and we are left with 20, which shows that our engagement process is paying dividends,” he said.

An illegal structure is one, which is constructed without approved plans and requisite inspections by the council in contravention of the Regional Town and Country Planning Act (Chapter 29:12) and Hwange Local Board 2023 Building by-laws.

Mr Sibanda said the council would consider demolishing illegal structures belonging to owners who have not heeded its call.

He said if they do not comply, they will be forced to take the legal route whereby they will approach the courts armed with a resolution to apply for a demolish order.

“The Urban Councils Act also states that where the building has been erected otherwise than by the plans approved in terms of Section 5 or any other requirement of these by-laws, Council may in writing, direct that such building be altered, removed or demolished and that any further work on the building shall cease until the requirement of these by-laws has been complied with,” said Mr Sibanda.

The Government has over the years called on councils to demolish illegal structures as a way of restoring sanity.
Most of the illegal structures in HLB’s area of jurisdiction are mainly tuckshops that started sprouting during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Sibanda recently led councillors on a tour of the illegal structures in the council’s area of jurisdiction as a way of appreciating the gravity of the situation.