Zilga seeks interface with President
THE Zimbabwe Local Government Association wants an interface with President Mugabe to discuss issues affecting local authorities, including proposals to help boost revenues for service delivery.
Zilga’s new president, Dr Killer Zivhu, said the roughly 4 000 councillors who make up the association were keen to have a one-on-one with the Head of State and Government.
The Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe and the Association of Rural District Councils constitute Zilga. Dr Zivhu, the ARDC president, recently took over the Zilga presidency from Bulawayo mayor Mr Martin Moyo.
Dr Zivhu said, “We want to meet the President so that we air our grievances. Councils are struggling to provide services because of financial issues. We have a raft of proposals and we are confident the President can give us an ear.”
Among the proposed measures to generate revenue the Zilga president suggested were that councils collect vehicle licence fees, a function presently vested in the Zimbabwe National Roads Authority.
“If councils collect the vehicle licencing fees, it will be easier for councils to repair roads and improve service delivery than to wait for Zinara to disburse funds.
“Councils are depending on rates but residents are struggling to pay so it’s better for Government to give back councils powers to collect the licence fees. Councils are being forced to take defaulting ratepayers to debt collectors. It may seem inhumane but councils can’t shut down because people are not able to pay rates. This is why we are appealing to the Government to give us alternative ways of collecting money.”
Dr Zivhu said rural councils should also get back powers to collect land levies.
“The condition of rural roads is bad. Weather experts are warning of an impending flood in the next rainy season; that means next year, roads will be in a much situation. Therefore, we need to be capacitated for us to deliver tangible results.”