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Innocent Ruwende Senior Reporter
The Harare City Council building inspectorate has raked in $3,9 million from January to July this year, surpassing the amount budgeted by council.

The city had budgeted for $1,9 million.

Corporate communications manager Mr Michael Chideme yesterday attributed the positive change to the recapitalisation programme of the city’s divisions currently underway.

“We attribute the positive change to the recapitalisation programme of divisions under the Works Department notably the building inspectorate which approves building plans and issues development permits,” he said.

“We have received a positive variance of 1,3 million for January to July period. Council has been losing money in that area and is now able to collect money due to council and also to correct anomalies on building structures after the department was capacitated with utility vehicles.”

Mr Chideme said because of the 50 percent discount offer to residents, the city has been able to receive more money in terms of payments.

“The area that is benefiting the most is the roads section because we also realise that for any economic activity to thrive the road network must be trafficable,” he said.

“We will only be able to give the fuller account of monies collected so far after compiling the management report because the programme started on July 25.

“It is almost a month after we started the programme.”

Council last month opened a 90-day window within which ratepayers who settle their debts in full will enjoy a 50 percent discount.

Government, businesses and residents now owe the local authority over $784 million.

Council hopes the incentives will rescue Harare from a financial crisis which has seen the local authority failing to pay salaries and provide basic services such as refuse collection.

When the city introduced a similar facility in 2016, it raked in $85 million.

Policy inconsistencies regarding debt collection continue to cost the local authority.

Last year, Harare borrowed $30 million from local banks for recapitalisation.

It has already purchased 30 refuse trucks and equipment for road maintenance.

The money is also set to be used to revamp parks and cemeteries, capacitate the city’s architect, waste management, Harare Municipal Police, traffic law enforcement and valuation, and estates, among other                                                                     departments.