Mhondoro-Ngezi generates $1,3m revenue

THE Mhondoro-Ngezi Rural District Council (RDC) has generated an unprecedented $1,3 million in revenue in the first three months of the year, raising expectations that service delivery will improve.

Presenting the council chairperson’s first quarter report at last week’s full council meeting, Mhondoro-Ngezi chief executive officer Mr Itai Mawonde said the overall budget performance was 99,9 percent. According to the report, the local authority’s overall expenditure for the period under review was $648 119, which is less than 50 percent of the total revenue.

“The position is currently fair as we have managed to discharge some of our creditors. The first quarter overall revenue budget performance is at 99,93 percent. Council managed to collect revenue amounting to $1 354 685 and expended total amount of $648 119, 92,” he said.

Mr Mawonde said council had also managed to pay employee salaries and allowances.

“These are up to date, except for pension, Zimdef, NSSA and NEC, of which payment plans have been put in place.”

Mr Mawonde said the council’s gum treatment plant was boosting council’s revenue inflows. “The gum treatment plant has managed to work on orders received and a total of nine people have been employed to discharge orders which have been given to it,” he said.

“The orders are worth $56 000 and it seems this is a viable project and there is need for council to plant more gum trees so that the project can be sustained.”

Revenues from the country’s biggest platinum producer, Zimplats, also contribute significantly to revenue collections. The local authority also boasts of diverse income-generating projects such as a service station and gold milling plant.