Vendors slam city’s proposed emergency levy

Blessings Chidakwa

Herald Reporter

VENDORS have slammed the emergency services and street lighting levies that were proposed in Harare City Council’s 2025 budget.

In a statement, Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) chairperson Mr Samuel Wadzanai said the budget contains many ambitious targets, but of concern is the proposed emergency services and street lighting levies.

“The emergency services levy is ostensibly being introduced to cater for the purchase of new ambulances as the city is said to have only four functional ones, against a requirement of 32.

“There can be no doubt that emergency services are critical to the well-being of residents in the capital. However, what is problematic in our view is the ready recourse to taxing residents who are battling to survive,” he said.

“It is our view that the city can meet the health, education, water, and sanitation needs of its residents should it choose to implement sound public finance management principles.”