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Masvingo council revenue drops.

by BustopTV

By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu

Masvingo city council revenue has dropped by $2.1 million due to residents’ failure by residents to pay their bills.

This was revealed by Masvingo Town Clerk, Edward Mukaratirwa.

“Before lockdown we were collecting an average of $5.5million per month and ever since the start of the lockdown, we have collected an average of $3.4 million per month,” he said.

According to Mukaratirwa, the drop in revenue is a result of residents who are failing to pay for their water bills.

“However we are still urging them to pay whatever amounts they manage to raise so that their level of indebtedness remains manageable.

Residents are paying their water bills, however some are expressing incapacity to service their accounts mainly because their sources of income have been disturbed by the lock down,” he said.

Masvingo City Council and Masvingo United Ratepayers and Residents Association resolved that council was going to reduce the rates hikes by 21% but still the residents are failing to pay up the amount required of them by the city council.

MURRA spokesperson, Godfrey Mutimba said that the Council needs to consider reduction of the rates again.

“As MURRA we held a meeting with council over the issue and they agreed to reduce their 700% rates hike by 21% but still residents cannot afford to pay so we are still engaging them to further reduce, especially during this difficult times of Covid -19 lock down, many are not working so they do not have sources of income.
We appeal to the city fathers to consider residents calls for reduction of rates,” said Mutimba.

One resident pleaded with the council to reduce their charges as her bill even after the council agreeing to reduce the water bills remained at $1 000 for this month.

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