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Municipal Reporter
Senior police and army officials who were allocated land at the upmarket Gletwin Park by the Ministry of Public Works and National Housing have not been paying rates to Harare City Council since 2013, prompting the city to institute legal proceedings against them.
According to recent minutes of the Finance and Development Committee, acting finance director Mr Tendai Kwenda circulated a report indicating debtors’ position regarding Gletwin Township and remedial action taken to address the matter.
“The acting finance director reported that Gletwin Township was situated on land formerly owned by J.I. and S. Ross which was occupied in 2000. The Ministry of Public Works and National Housing later allocated the land to employees of various ministries which included Defence Forces and Zimbabwe Republic Police for residential purposes.
“The tenants benefited from the ministerial directive of June 2013 to write off domestic debts. The stands in Gletwin had not changed ownership from J.I. and S. Ross to individual stand owners hence the occupants received bills and ignored to pay the rates.
“Legal action was now being instituted against the occupants with a view to compel them to pay their rates. Legal action will be taken if they failed to pay or enter into an acceptable payment plan,” read the part of the min- utes.
The committee considered a report by Mr Kwenda on the potential collection of revenue and the number of debtors per district as at March this year.
It expressed concern on the debts on leases and requested for status reports.
The committee noted that the collection efficiency for residential debtors was 42 percent while commercial and industrial consumers averaged 66 percent.
It also noted that despite incentivising commercial and industrial debtors by offering discounts of up to 30 percent, the uptake has been low, signifying the general liquidity challenges prevailing in the country.
“The committee resolved to recommend that council extends the interest amnesty on overdue payments for council bills to industrial and commercial debtors on condition they meet their current obligations in full and agree to come up with sustainable payment plans,” read part of the minutes.
The committee resolved that all councillors be furnished with reports of the top 10 debtors in their wards.
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