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Yeukai Karengezeka Herald Correspondent
Chitungwiza Municipality raked in $1,8 million from the 50 percent discount promotion for ratepayers that it ran last month.

Initially, the promotion ran from February 15 to March 15 but was extended to the end of March due to public demand.

Recent minutes of the Finance Committee indicate that there was a 10 percent increase of revenue collected during the period under review.

“Finance director Mrs Evangelista Machona told councillors that $1 852 545 was collected from the 50 percent promotion, hence there was a significant improvement.”

Mrs Machona reported that she attended a budget meeting with the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and was advised that local authorities that had conducted promotions should submit a report to that effect.

She said that council was insolvent since debtors outweighed creditors and could not continue with the promotion.

As at February 28, she said, the debtors figure stood at $75,4 million against creditors figure of $75 million.

“The debtor’s figure as at 28 February 2019 stood at $75 454 209 and this consists of commercial and industrial debtors worth $24 324 695 and residential debtors are at $51 129 514.

“The debtors figure increased by $3 155 259 as compared to the previous period mainly because ratepayers are not honouring their bills,” reads the report.

Mrs Machona said council, through its credit control and legal section, had issued summons to 99 residential properties with a debt value of $285 000 and 67 had already responded with 10 entering into payment plans of $3 000.

The creditors figure increased to $75 016 758 as compared to $74 692 357 the previous period  due to an increase in salary- related expenses.

The minutes indicate that council is failing to meet its obligations due to skyrocketing prices.