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Michael Magoronga in KWEKWE
Redcliff Municipality has announced a 50 percent discount for all ratepayers above the age of 65 in order to lessen their burden. Redcliff Mayor Councillor Freddy Kapuya said the discount is effective from January 1.

In an interview on the sidelines of the disbursement of the Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fund proceeds to beneficiaries on Saturday, Cllr Kapuya said council had noted with concern the plight the elderly, especially those who are failing to settle their debts. He said most of the elderly were unemployed widows and widowers struggling to make ends meet.

“With effect from this January, we have decided to make them (senior citizens) pay half of what they owe council. We are trying to make their life better in these harsh economic conditions. That way, council will also enjoy some revenue inflows as the discount offered can act as an attraction for them to settle their debts,” said Cllr Kapuya.

Meanwhile, more than 100 people, including the elderly, orphans and the underprivileged, received various donations ranging from food hampers, school fees donations and school uniforms.

The local authority raised more than $10 000 in donations through the 2017 Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fund. Cllr Kapuya said 50 orphans from the town’s seven wards will get school fees assistance for a year. Rutendo Old People’s Home, which shelters more than 20 elderly people, received food hampers. Council also paid medical bills for some of its members.

“We are going to make follow ups on those who might have been left out and in dire need of assistance. For that reason, we have set aside a substantial amount for the purposes of such situations,” he said.

“We also want to thank everyone who contributed because this is the first time we have raised such an amount and we are grateful to everyone who participated. May God bless every hand that was stretched,” he said. The $10 000 raised by his council under the Christmas Cheer Fund, he said, was a milestone as such an amount has never been raised by the council before.