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Mr Mlauzi

Blessings Chidakwa Chinhoyi Correspondent
Chinhoyi Municipality’s ratepayers have added more than $2 million to an already ballooning debt in the past month, a worrying development for a local authority that is struggling to provide services.

As at December 31, 2017, council was owed $36,7 million, but the debt has since risen to $38,2 million. Chinhoyi’s spokesperson Mr Tichaona Mlauzi said last week, council was generating almost $300 000 monthly against the targeted $700 000.

“Council debtors’ amount now stands at $38,2 million, of which $15,1m is for real estates, $23,1m is for rates, water and other services rendered by the municipality,” he said.

Government departments reportedly owe council $1 million.

“There is a three-way state of arrangement with Government whereby if a department owes council, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development will offset the debt through zimra taxes,” he said.

Mr Mlauzi implored ratepayers to pay their bills. “The arrangement we made in the past still stands that the client pays the current bill and part of the debt,” he said.