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Herald Reporter
Ruwa Town Council is offering discounts to commercial ratepayers to encourage them to clear their debts.
Council board chairman Mr Pinias Mushayavanhu told The Herald on Tuesday that council was offering 30 percent discount on rates and service charges for ratepayers whose accounts are up to date for the next three months.
Consumers who pay 70 percent of the amount they owe council would have their remaining debt written off.

Mr Mushayavanhu said council decided to make the offer after it realised that most companies in the town had accrued collossal debts.
“We realised that when Government scrapped bills for residents, the industries and commercial enterprises did not benefit.

“However, they were equally affected by the economic meltdown.
“So we decided as a council to come up with a payment plan to help them,” he said.

He urged companies to approach council to discuss payment plans.
“We are saying if companies are not comfortable with what we are offering them, they should come to our offices so that we can engage each other on the way forward,” Mr Mushayavanhu said.

The country’s socio-economic development, he said, was dependent on industry and commerce hence it was important to incentivise the sector and stimulate growth.
“Most people depend on the industries for employment and it can only be fair to help the companies thrive,” he said.