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Herald Reporter
Harare City Council will block shop owners from operating without paying the required licence fees starting January next year. In a statement, the city authorities urged businesses to renew their licences and avoid inconveniences.

“Harare City Council is urging business operators to take advantage of the December period to renew their shop licences and avoid the January rush.

“Come January, the city will not allow businesses to operate without paying the requisite licences,” read part of the statement.

“The city finances its service delivery mandate through the fees paid by the business operators. Delays and failure by business to pay for their shop licences in time will adversely affect service delivery,” read the statement.

In a related matter, the city has offered 30 percent discount to its big debtors should they settle 70 percent of their outstanding debts by December 31, 2014.

The council is owed $294 million by various ratepayers among them Government ministries, satellite towns, the corporate sector and residents.

Interest rates will be reversed for businesses that qualify.

“There are individual companies that owe the city in excess of US$400 000. If all the debtors were to settle the outstanding bills, council would be in a position to greatly improve service delivery and would also reduce on borrowing to finance service delivery.”

Harare City failed to meet its annual revenue target of US$276 million this year, having collected US$138 million in the last 10 months to October, forcing it to revise downwards its target to US$151 million.