Chronicle Editor
Walter Mswazie, Masvingo Bureau
MASVINGO Town Council has embarked on a property survey to create an effective data base of companies operating in the urban area, an official has said.
Mayor Councillor Hubert Fidze said the process, which would be done with the assistance of Great Zimbabwe University (GZU), also involves auditing of the local authority’s clients.
He said the results of the survey would assist council in coming up with an effective billing system.
Of late there have been complaints over the billing system with some companies disputing their debts. Recently, the business community engaged council over their outstanding utility bills.
“The survey of properties will help us have a data base for the purposes of billing. After the survey, we should be able to have an effective billing system. We want to have a database of all properties in town,” said Clr Fidze.
He said the local authority would have an official launch soon where modalities on how the survey will be done are attended to.
“We will have a correct picture of our clients after this survey. We have also partnered with the GZU where students will be part of the process under the supervision of council. We want to have a symbiotic relationship with our universities and we are starting that partnership with the survey,” he said.
Clr Fidze said due to the absence of a property database, council has been losing a lot of revenue as some companies easily circumvented paying council’s bills. He said council should have proper documentation of businesses operating in the city for accountability purposes.
Clr Fidze said the property survey was not a new phenomenon but a best practice in local governance. He also said the surveyors would listen to the property owners’ concerns for the purposes of proper planning.
“We will also lend an ear to our clients’ grievances,” he said.
@walterbmswazie3
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