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Michael Magoronga Midlands Correspondent
Kwekwe City Council has introduced a two percent road levy as it seeks to improve the state of roads.

During a press briefing after the local authority’s full council meeting on Wednesday last week, mayor Councillor Angeline Kasipo said the local authority had no option, but to tax the ratepayers in a bid to augment the funds obtained from the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara).

“The funds we are receiving from Zinara are not enough for us to maintain our roads,” she said.

“We, therefore, have decided to take two percent of every payment made by our ratepayers and channel it towards road repairs and maintenance.”

Cllr Kasipo said besides the money being inadequate, it was also coming in batches, rendering it almost useless.

“In 2019, we received the first tranche of $1,2 million, and two tranches of $163 000,” she said.

“In 2020, we have been promised $2,3 million by Zinara, which again is inadequate in this period when inflation is running away.

“We are left with no option, but to turn to the ratepayers again.”

The roads require resealing as they are in bad shape.

“We cannot talk of rehabilitation that is not resealing at the moment,” said Cllr Kasipo.

“The only way out is resealing because the roads have outlived their lifespan, but for us to do so, we need funding, hence the move.”

Some companies have come forward to assist council in the rehabilitation of roads and council now wants to play its part too.

The Kwekwe two percent tax comes at a time when the Government has been calling on local authorities to stop milking ratepayers.

Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo recently urged Kwekwe City Council to take advantage of mining activities in and around the town to broaden revenue streams.

“There are a number of ways (of generating revenue) other than relying on ratepayers all the time,” he said.

“Kwekwe is one of the richest towns in terms of resources, but you need to devise ways of how you make sure that the mines that are around the town are paying theirtaxes.”

Minister Moyo said the local authority should work with Government departments like police and the Ministry of Mines to ensure that mine owners complied with the directive.