Chitown council, residents on collision course ove...

Chitown council, residents on collision course over USD rates

Philemon Jambaya

Knives are out for Chitungwiza Municipality, which is now charging rates in United States Dollars effective May 1.

The local authority, which is struggling with service delivery, has been accused of trying to milk from already suffering residents.

Residents who spoke to Zim Now said that the council is forgetting its main mandate as it has decided to commercialise general livelihood.

The Chitungwiza Residents Trust has said that the USD rates are unjustified and they should be scrapped as stakeholders were not consulted.

“The US dollar charges are unjustifiable and insensitive to the poor. Stakeholders were not consulted, it's a surprise to everyone. There is poor service delivery, council workers are not paid. They must regularise 55 000 houses and take back all council properties that are being politicised and only a few people are benefiting,” Chitrest director Alice Kuveya told Zim Now.

Mitchel Chigodo of Zengeza 4 concurred with Kuveya, arguing that the majority ofresidents are earning RTGS and it will be difficult for them to pay USD rates in USD.

“Most residents are in RTGS and it will be difficult for them to pay rates in forex, the council should reverse this decision, the councillors are out of touch with reality on the ground,” Chigodo said.