CHINHOYI Municipality says it is exploring all avenues to recover over $11 million owed by residents and other ratepayers. Report by Own Correspondent
Speaking to NewsDay yesterday, town clerk Shepherd Kamba said the local authority was burdened by the staggering debt. That was the reason why the council failed to pay workers in time and to deliver services to the town, he said.
Kamba said council would employ “friendly methods” to motivate ratepayers to settle their bills in a bid to reclaim the $11, 6 million owed.
“As council we understand the liquidity problems faced by our residents, some of whom are unemployed. Therefore, it would be prudent if we avoid using punitive measures to force them to pay up.
Council is going to engage all stakeholders and demonstrate its commitment to improve conditions in the town so that they are motivated to pay,” Kamba said.
He also said there was need for the local authority to boost revenue inflows to buttress council bank balances.
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There is heightened supervision of council’s revenue collection arms to consolidate the municipality’s purse to enable it to service bank loans and buy capital assets such as utility vehicles, the town boss added.
The biggest individual debtor, he said, was the Cold Storage Company which has not been operational for over a decade. Low-density suburbs residents owed $4,4 million while residents of the largest high-density suburb Chikonohono owed $2,5 million, Chinhoyi location $664 000, Shackleton $322 000 and Alaska $260 000. A further $2,4 million was owed in unpaid rent and rates on council properties.