Uproar over 1 000% increase in licence fees

Zim Now Writer

A number of small to medium enterprise businesspersons have signed a petition against the 1 000 percent increase in shop licences with some small businesses on the verge of closing down.

Shop licences now cost over ZWL$1 million from ZWL$200 000.

Business operator, Killian Muzorori said he used to pay ZWL$200 000, but when I went to pay my shop license fees for this year, I was asked to pay US$1 100.

Business operator Chris Manguni said they are left with no option but to close shops.

“We are on the verge of closing shop because we are failing to pay the shop licence fees. Our plea is that the responsible authorities review the operator’s fees or else we are left with no option, but to close our shops which are sustaining a lot of families,” he said.

Harare City Council Director of Health Services, Dr Prosper Chonzi confirmed that the council had hiked shop licence fees by 1 000% saying the city fathers were implementing their 2023 budget.

The Harare City Council was recently forced to review vehicle clamping fees downwards from US$137 to US$57 after a public outcry over the high clamping fees.

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said that they had instructed the council’s finance committee to look into and review the licence fees.

“A lot of people are complaining. If you move from a premise, you can’t move with your licence. You have to pay again. Even if you do renovations. We also need to look at our licensing payment methods.

“We might need to introduce a quarterly payment system so that people can lessen the burden of paying and we might need a reduction in the quantum. I got a call from the Hairdressers Association. They wrote a letter complaining about the fees which means it’s a serious issue.

“Something went wrong when we were preparing the budget because almost everything went up,” he said.

In January this year, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works approved ninety-two budgets for 2023 presented by local authorities, with four being rejected for various reasons.