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Freeman Razemba and Farai Kuvirimirwa
Harare City Council yesterday presented a $272,7 million budget proposal for next year without increasing tariffs, charges, fees and pledged to write off rates to consumers who had not been receiving water for the past four years.
Services whose fees remain unchanged include rates, clinic, hospital, maternity fess, cremation and burial charges.

Last year’s budget was $371 million, consisting of $95 million capital and $276 million revenue budgets.

Presenting the 2015 budget proposal, chairperson of the finance and development committee, Councillor Tranos Moyo said council had recommended the writing off of all accrued interest on debtor accounts for ratepayers who settled their accounts in full by December 31.

“It is recommended that ratepayers who are up to date with their payments be allowed to benefit from a five percent discount, and that council approves the reduction of hostel rentals from $23 to $10 per month, exclusive of utility charges,” he said.

Clr Moyo said this year’s budget would buttress clusters in the country’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset, including the improvement of road infrastructure and service delivery.

“Funds coming to the city from Zinara by way of vehicle licensing fees have progressively gone down to a point where in 2014 current year, the city is yet to receive the first instalment of its allocation,” he said.

Clr Moyo said the city intended to borrow $52 million vehicle remittances from Zinara to finance the purchase of road maintenance equipment.

He said council projected to collect $151 million by December 31 next year where 48 percent would be channelled towards employment costs, while 52 percent will fund other service delivery programmes.

Clr Moyo said council debts stood at $294 million as at end of September this year against a creditor position of $220 million.

He indicated that the budget was crafted with a view to implementing the social services and poverty eradication and the infrastructure and utilities cluster in line with Zim-Asset.

Clr Moyo announced that a number of cost cutting and revenue enhancing measures would be instituted including cleaning the database, increasing customer base, improving metering and equipping the pumps at various water pumping stations with soft starters to reduce power consumption. Power consumption stands at $1,2 million per month for the city.

“The budget further provides for the acquisition of roads maintenance equipment and a total of $31 million has been set aside for the purpose,” said Clr Moyo.

“The money will be used to buy road maintenance equipment such as graders, pneumatic rollers, water bowsers, steel rollers, tippers, chip spreaders among a host of other equipment.”

Clr Moyo said council set aside $2,5 million for installation of local area network and wide area network aimed at enhancing transparency in the billing system.

He said they had noted that refuse trucks that were purchased in 2010 were ageing and needed to be replaced.

“$3,6 million has been provided for that replacement programme,” he said.

“The Pomona dump site is filling up rapidly, making it imperative that a new landfill site be identified.

“The 2015 budget provides $2,5 million for the development of a new dump site. In order to obviate fuel stock outs, a total of $1,8 million has been allocated for the purchase of fuel for refuse collection programmes.”

Clr Moyo said there were plans to develop new burial sites and $2,5 million had been set aside for the purpose.

He indicated that water production at treatment plants increased by an additional 75 mega litres per day.

Clr Moyo said council also took over the running of council schools from SDAs and was now responsible for the payment of salaries for certain staff and running costs.