Staff Reporter

In a bid to enhance convenience for residents and stakeholders, Chitungwiza municipality has embarked on a door-to-door revenue collection exercise from October 3 to 17, 2024. This innovative approach aims to bring revenue collection services closer to the people, saving them time and effort.

This initiative is expected to improve revenue collection, a challenge that has hindered local authorities' ability to deliver services efficiently.

By bringing services to the community, the municipality hopes to enhance transparency and accountability while reducing the backlog of unpaid dues.

In a press statement, Chitungwiza Acting town clerk, Japson Nemuseso encouraged the stakeholders to take advantage of the exercise to clear outstanding bills

"Our team will be moving around residential areas and business centers with point of sale machines, allowing you to pay bills from the comfort of your home, office, or business." The collection team consists of uniformed municipal police officers and cashiers, and cash payments are accepted. The team will also be collecting statistics at each household or premise to update the council's database," said Nemuseso.

Meanwhile, some residents are not convinced of the initiative's integrity. Concerns over potential misuse of funds and corruption have surfaced, with some fearing that the involvement of municipal police officers could lead to unethical practices.

One resident, Tafadzwa Moyo, expressed scepticism.

“These council officials only care about their own pockets. With the police collecting cash, how are we supposed to trust that our money will go where it’s needed? I am worried that they will just use it for personal gain,” he said.

Similarly, another resident, Faith Muchena, voiced her frustration, suggesting that the door-to-door approach might further open avenues for corruption.

“They come to our doorsteps under the pretence of making things easier, but who is monitoring them? Without proper oversight, this just ignites corruption even more,” she explained.

By launching this door-to-door revenue collection exercise, Chitungwiza municipality demonstrates its commitment to enhancing stakeholder engagement and improving its revenue collection rate, ultimately benefiting the community.