…announces shocking steep rates for January 2021
Peter Tanyanyiwa
The Harare City Council (HCC) has unveiled a ZWL$32.7 billion budget that will see ZWL$20 billion dedicated to water and sanitation.
Of the total water budget ZWL$4.7 billion is from the capital estimates.
The proposals were immediately endorsed by council and will now be on a 30 display soliciting for public input and comments before onward transmission to Government for approval.
Announcing the 2021 budget proposal estimates chairman of the Finance and Development Committee Cllr Tichaona Zivanai Mhetu said the capital budget constitutes ZWL$8.4 billion while the revenue budget is ZWL$24.3 billion bringing it to a ZWL$32.7 billion total.
The budget mainly focusses on service delivery and improvement of the well-being of the city residents.
At least 57 percent of the revenue budget will go towards water and sanitation while 61 percent of the capital budget has been dedicated towards the same.
“Water, sanitation and hygiene is at the core of service delivery programmes. As we strive to be a smart city we are aware of the need to manage waste water effectively. Part of the allocation will be channeled towards the optimization of our wastewater treatment plants.
“Efforts will be made towards the rehabilitation of our farms which are critical in the waste water treatment process,” he said.
Cllr Mhetu described the state of city roads as deplorable citing the late disbursement of funds by Zinara and price variations caused by market distortions.
“It must be acknowledged that the amount allocated is paltry and our bid is for Zinara to avail more funding for capital works. We constantly request for more funds to implement road works but Zinara does not respond positively to our plans,” he said.
The cost of producing a cubic meter of treated water has gone up from ZWL$99 to ZWL$151.
Chairman of the Finance and Development Committee Cllr Tichaona Zivanai Mhetu said the budget proposals for 2021 were in response to the prevailing economy.
“The proposed 2021 revenue budget before you is a responsive budget. The justification for water tariff increase has been necessitated by a drastic increase in cost of inputs namely chemicals, cost of repairs, maintenance, capital charges on borrowed funds for works and electricity costs,” he said.
“Projected cost of producing one cubic metre of water in 2021 is ZWL$151 up from ZW$99 in 2020”, he said.
Under the budget proposals, high-density suburban residents will be charged $575 for the first five cubic metres of water a month, $565 a month for a once-a-week bin collection, a sewer charge of $250 for each toilet and a minimum property tax of $345.
The Mabelreign family will pay the low-density tariffs of $765 for five cubic metres of water, $803 for a weekly bin collection, and $410 for each toilet. The property tax on a Mabelreign house will be around $2 580 a month, although this will be higher in most low-density suburbs with their larger houses and plots.
The business community has not been spared in the steep hike of fees, with the collection of bins in commercial and industrial areas depending on the frequency per week, daily collection will be $2 125, and three-times a week will be $1 782. The cost of hiring an ambulance will rise to $820, but clinic fees remain the same having been shoved up the equivalent of US$5 a visit already.
Council wants to push up its rents. In Glen Norah the semi-detached houses will be rented for $2 800 a month, terraced houses in Dzivaresekwa for $3 200 and four-roomed houses in Kuwadzana for $8 400.