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Byo sports clubs seek rates rebate

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THE Bulawayo City Council has extended rates rebate to all sports clubs operating in the city after they complained that the high tariffs charged by the local authority were driving them out of business.

THE Bulawayo City Council has extended rates rebate to all sports clubs operating in the city after they complained that the high tariffs charged by the local authority were driving them out of business.

BY SILAS NKALA

The sports clubs recently petitioned the local authority seeking rates rebates, and the issue was brought to councillors’ attention by finance director, Kimpton Ndimande during last week’s full council meeting.

“Council had resolved, on May 4, 2016, that all Bulawayo sports clubs be charged rates on land on the first $40 000 of land valuation at the rate of 0,0065 and be charged 0,00223678 for any value above $40 000 back dated to July 4, 2012 when council received the clubs’ petition,” council minutes read.

“This meant that all clubs had the rates on land on the first $40 000 reduced by 50% all backdated to July 2012. It would be recalled also that council ran a promotion, wherein the business community was offered a 50% incentive rebate on condition that ratepayers paid the rest of the money due after the rebate. While the promotion was running, the sports clubs petition was receiving attention and, as a result, the clubs could not take advantage of the 50% incentive rebate.

“The main reason for this application at this time is that clubs and social organisations were prejudiced and not in a position to take advantage of the council offer of the discount as the arrears as currently reflected on clubs and social organisation bills was not finalised. The finalisation of this value was only forthcoming from the Bulawayo City Council in May 2016,” the petition read.