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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
Masvingo residents have rejected the city council’s proposed 70 percent increase on the 2019 budget, dismissing the upward adjustment as unjustified.

In a letter addressed to the Mayor, Councillor Collen Maboke, signed by 70 residents and copied to Town Clerk Mr Adolph Gusha, the residents objected to the proposed increase in line with the Urban Councils Act.

The local authority has placed an advertisement in the local media on the proposed tariff increases on water in the 2019 budget statement.

However, the budget has remained at around $27 million.

The proposed reviews would see water tariffs going up from 63 cents to $1,26 starting January 2018.

Residents complained they were given a short notice to attend budget consultative meetings.

Residents in the low-density suburbs are paying 88 cents for the same amount, but they are expected to pay about $1,54.

Ms Traphine Moyo of Rujeko said council was not supplying residents with adequate water and there was no logic in increasing its tariffs.