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Midlands Bureau
Cash strapped Kwekwe City Council is set to review its 2019 budget that will result in rates and water tariff going up by 100 percent, Kwekwe Mayor Councillor Kasipo has said.

Cllr Kasipo said the city’s $26,9 million that was approved by the Local Government Board was no longer enough to cover the council’s service delivery needs hence the decision to increase the rates.

“Due to the prevailing economic situation in our country, what we had proposed as our budget is no longer sustainable. We thus intend to review our rates and water tariffs but we have to go through the proper procedure.

“The issue will be debated in the relevant committee meetings before it comes to full council for final deliberation. We are still at planning stages for now,” said Cllr Kasipo.

She said council settled for a 100 percent increase to cover rising costs.

“We are struggling to supply water due to low tariffs charges which are nowhere near the cost we incur in purifying the water. Water treatment chemicals suppliers are now charging in forex, making it difficult for us to operate. Currently we are operating at a loss and that is what we intend to address,” she said.

Cllr Kasipo said the council will soon formulate a supplementary budget, which will be taken to residents for their input.

“We have been promising our residents that we would come back for a budget review, this time we should do it right.

“We will consult them before implementing they should understand where we are coming from and what we want to achieve as a council,” she said.

Under the current budget, which was adopted early this year, residents are paying between $15 and $19 as fixed charges.

There was over 400 percent increase for the same charges to industries from last year’s $10 for weekly collections to $45 and $60 for daily collections.