Mutare City in bid to expand revenue base

MUTARE City Council will soon establish offices in Zimunya and Fern Valley residential suburbs, as part of efforts to broaden its revenue collection base and recoup millions of dollars that defaulting residents owe the authority.

Council public relations officer Mr Spren Mutiwi said council was owed close to $45 million by residents defaulting on payments for services rendered adding that some could be doing so to protest over the long distances they have to travel to the nearest council offices to make their payments.

“If you take the example of people living in suburbs like Zimunya and Fern Valley, you realise that they have to travel either to Chikanga or Sakubva respectively to make payments, which is both tedious and costly especially in a depressed economy like ours.

“It is those people who we want to take care of, but we are very worried over the reluctance by the residents to settle their debts.

“We encourage them to come and make payment plans so that the gradually settle their debts without pressure,” he said.

He said debt settlement would also help council boost service delivery while residents will also live free and peaceful lives without having to be on the lookout for council inspectors or debt collectors every time.

At the moment there are only four offices where residents can pay their bills and these are in Chikanga, Sakubva, Civic Centre and Dangamvura, which makes it difficult for residents in outlying areas to access them.

Mr Mutiwi said since council adopted the payment plan option there had been some improved revenue inflows and also commended the way new town clerk, Mr Joshua Maligwa had transformed revenue collection from being lax to efficient.

“Revenue collection efficiency and revenue inflows have in recent months improved significantly — something council believes is attributable to the efforts of the town clerk, Mr Maligwa who has opened the door to various revenue collection methods,” said Mr Mutiwi.

He added that by 2018, Mutare would become more effective in revenue collection.