BY STAFF REPORTER
Chitungwiza residents are strongly against the US$17 proposed rent card proposed by the council on Monday for 2023.
The amount was revealed by acting finance director Robert Nyikadzino during a budget committee.
“The Municipality is proposing to charge the 2023 budget in United States Dollars (USD). Service charges on the rent card are being proposed to be US$17.74 but payable at prevailing auction rate on the date of billing. All other tariffs remain unchanged in USD values,”
he said.
“Council is also proposing the use of a valuation roll on charging property tax.”
Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural Residents Association secretary Brighton Mazhindu told Chaminuka News24 that the amount was exorbitant, adding that Chitungwiza Municipality should find other means of raising money.
“It’s not affordable , the problem is council expect the rent card to solve all the service delivery problems without thinking of other income generating projects , the Urban Councils Act empowers local authorities to do income generating projects like brick moulding or even farming without burdening residents who have been religiously paying for many years,”
he said.
Residents and Ratepayers Association (CHIRRA) chairperson Arthur Taderera Chitungwiza accused the council of making a budget with the richest people in the society in mind.
“There is a blatant inconsideration on the ability of the majority to afford such a high figure. When budgets are made the authorities must not rate with the richest of the society but poor pension earners,” he said.
“What was in their minds when making such an exorbitant and outrageous proposal? Do they want to make Chitungwiza another Santa Barbara? How many houses are expected to pay? How much is the council to collect from other sources than rent card? It’s absurd really.”
he said.
