BY NYARADZO CHITUNGO
The Harare City Council claims it is grappling with a staggering debt of ZiG 8 billion owed by ratepayers, a situation that is negatively impacting effective service delivery.
In a recent statement, the Council revealed that this was derived from the latest Debtor’s Age Analysis Report, during the update meeting on CBD operation on rented accommodation and regularisation of dysfunctional settlements in Harare presented by Acting Head of Revenue, Alfred Guni.
The Council claims the bulk of the debt comes from residential property owners who owe ZiG 5 billion, followed by the commercial sector with ZiG 1.09 billion and industry owing ZiG 1.05 billion. Other significant debts include ZiG 455 million owed by ZESA, ZiG 345 million from dormitory towns, ZiG 167 million from the Government, ZiG 64 million from parastatals, ZiG 58 million from municipal property tenants and ZiG 31 million categorised as sundry.
Additionally, municipal property tenants owe ZiG 58 million.
To avoid inconveniences and court orders, The City of Harare is urging ratepayers to settle their debts as soon as possible.
“The City is taking stern measures to recover the debt and urges ratepayers to settle their debts as soon as possible to avoid inconveniences of business closures and residents losing their properties through court orders,” read the statement.
