Mutare City Council said it would exempt all institutions for the vulnerable which were visited by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai recently from paying rates as a way of complementing the gesture by the Premier.
Tsvangirai visited Zororai Old People’s Home, Probation Centre for Boys and Louden Lodge, which caters for disabled girls, among other institutions.
The majority of institutions said they were in dire financial crises and pleaded with the PM for assistance.
In an interview with NewsDay, Mutare deputy mayor George Jerison said Tsvangirai’s visit made them realise there was need for the city to extend a helping hand as well.
“We were touched by the Premier’s visit to the needy in our city and as city fathers, we have seen it fit to scrap all rate charges from these centres. We will have a full council meeting on Tuesday (today) to formalise it,” said Jerison.
It was a sorry sight at most of the centres visited by Tsvangirai, who donated blankets and pledged government support.
Probation Centre accommodates 18 boys, Zororai Old People’s Home has 24 inmates while Louden Lodge is catering for 18 girls.
“These people need our support and we will do everything we can to make sure they are taken care of and it begins with exempting them from paying anything to council,” said Jerison.
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Tsvangirai said the government had to do something to help the needy in communities despite the challenges the coalition government was facing.
He said communities had to help in rehabilitating children and unite to take care of the elderly.
