By Taurai Mazwi
Harare Residents Trust (HRT) has castigated the MDC led Harare City Council’s (HCC) stance to increase rates, backdating them to January 2020, which left residents in shock and confusion.
HRT issued a statement to HCC warning that the Unilateral Increase of Rates by the City Fathers entrenches autocratic municipal governance.
Part of the statement read, “The Harare Residents Trust (HRT) is concerned with the unilateral increase in rates by the City of Harare backdated to January 2020. Under the hyperinflationary context, the huge rates will soon be eroded, but the key principle of consulting the residents should never be compromised.
“Citizens should be valued as part of an inclusive decision-making approach by the City of Harare. Residents across the suburbs in Harare’s 46 wards have reported that their new rates have left them in shock and confusion. The City of Harare has hiked property rates (300%), water charges (between 292% and 310% for high density areas and low density areas respectively), bulky water charges (233%) and sewer charges (154%). Burial charges have been upped by an whooping 433% for all classes/site(s) A, B and A+ and clinic consultation fees remained at 2019 levels,” read the statement.
HRT further adds that, the increase has come at a bad time when the effects of Covid19 are negatively affecting everyone and forcing people into destitution.
“The increase is coming at a time when residents are reeling from the drastic effects of Covid-19 pandemic. Economic activity is grounded. Most of the adversely affected ratepayers are residents without any form of livelihoods in terms of being gainfully employed.
“The informal sector is grounded with very little taking place. Their survival is based largely on vending which is not considered as essential services during this lockdown. The move is pushing more families into destitution as the debt keeps accumulating, without any hope of ever paying off what they owe to the council.
“When the ratepayers have unpaid debts, and the rates are increased, it is nearly impossible and unimaginable that the City of Harare would be able to meet their revenue collection targets. Most services are not being rendered, especially refuse collection, water and sanitation services and street lighting is none existent. Roads are not being maintained,” read the statement.
The MDC led HCC is failing to deliver most services, especially refuse collection, water and sanitation services and street lighting which is almost none existent. Roads are also not being maintained.
