Businesses to pay road levy

Zim Now Writer

Businesses in Kwekwe will start paying a special levy by the end of March to mobilise resources to fix the city’s terrible road network.

“We do not have enough equipment and resources for us to be able to repair our roads. The roads are in a bad state but we cannot repair them. We don’t have a grader, the one we have is very old and is often broken down.

“The road levy we receive is insignificant so a road levy would go a long way in assisting us,” said chairperson of the works committee, Councillor Pikurai Msipa.

This comes after Kwekwe City Council unanimously adopted the introduction of a road levy during a recent full council meeting.

The levy regime has not yet been released but council resolved that collection would start at the end of March.

It is envisioned that the levy will then cascade to other rate payers.

Government introduced the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme to upgrade main trunk roads with most resources focused on the Beitbridge-Chirundu highway.

Local authorities have been making do with disbursements from the Zinara but these have been inadequate.