Chronicle Editor
Rejoyce Sibanda, Chronicle Reporter
THE City of Bulawayo has invited vulnerable groups and citizens aged 70 years and above to apply for 50 percent rates rebate scheme and ease the burden on monthly bills. In a public notice, the council said applicants should be locals who own and reside in the concerned properties registered under their name and meet the recommended “vulnerable” criteria.
The rate rebate scheme was initially adopted in May 2009 but was not implemented. It seeks to provide relief to vulnerable elderly residents in the city and applies to the rates component only and not the overall council bill.
Bulawayo Town Clerk, Christopher Dube, said: “Prospective beneficiaries should apply at the City of Bulawayo revenue offices by completing an application form. Applicant’s details are then forwarded to housing and community services department for assessment by social workers.”
Mr Dube said successful applicants would be recommended for a 50 percent rates rebate and as part of due diligence, these will be visited at home to verify their position.
Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA) chairperson, Mr Winos Dube, said that the rebate scheme was a very good initiative for the elderly in helping them deal with economic hardships.
“The rates rebate scheme could be a very good idea in helping out the elderly. The main concern about the topic is that there should be an age review of those who are to benefit as 70 years is too high,” said Mr Dube.
He said that if the beneficiary age could be reduced to between 60 to 65 years most elderly residents would benefit because by that age a lot of them would have retired and struggling to make ends meet.
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