News / Local
Bulawayo City council to use $6,8 million to reward residents for paying rates
08 Dec 2013 at 11:23hrs | Views
THE Bulawayo City Council has resolved to deposit a combined $6,83 million into the accounts of residents who were up to date with bill payment when the local authority implemented the Government directive to write off bills.
In a recent meeting, councillors resolved to reward resident who did not benefit from the Government directive because their account payments were up to date.
They went a step further by rewarding even churches, welfare organisations and commercial consumers who were not in arrears at the time of the debt cancellation.
The latter organisations were not covered by the directive.
Councillors resolved that the city should come up with a once off credit to customers whose accounts had been either zero or in credit. A confidential council report read; "This credit could be based on selected services levied on the accounts from January 2013 to June 2013. This amounted to $6 839 240,52."
However, it was not explained in the report how much individual consumers' accounts would be credited with or when the decision would be implemented. However, at a residents meeting last month, Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo reportedly said accounts would be credited within the next three months.
According to the report councillors noted that the Ministerial directive punished residents who made it a point to pay council bills on time.
"Whilst the Ministerial directive had brought relief to the majority of residents, effectively it had rewarded those who did not prioritise payment for the services they had received/enjoyed and penalised those residents who paid their dues regularly. As a result, a number of inquiries had been received regarding the refunds or some recognition for their efforts to keep the city afloat," read the report.
The report shows that the bulk of the credits would go to commercial consumers with $6 012 026,24, followed by domestic consumers who will be credited with a total of $763 089,27.
Welfare organisations would get a credit of $16 322,64 while churches would get $47 802,37.
The last two organisations are exempted from paying rates and would mainly benefit from water charges account. Local authorities in the country cancelled consumers' outstanding balances that accrued between February 2009 and 30 June this year, in August.
In a recent meeting, councillors resolved to reward resident who did not benefit from the Government directive because their account payments were up to date.
They went a step further by rewarding even churches, welfare organisations and commercial consumers who were not in arrears at the time of the debt cancellation.
The latter organisations were not covered by the directive.
Councillors resolved that the city should come up with a once off credit to customers whose accounts had been either zero or in credit. A confidential council report read; "This credit could be based on selected services levied on the accounts from January 2013 to June 2013. This amounted to $6 839 240,52."
However, it was not explained in the report how much individual consumers' accounts would be credited with or when the decision would be implemented. However, at a residents meeting last month, Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo reportedly said accounts would be credited within the next three months.
According to the report councillors noted that the Ministerial directive punished residents who made it a point to pay council bills on time.
"Whilst the Ministerial directive had brought relief to the majority of residents, effectively it had rewarded those who did not prioritise payment for the services they had received/enjoyed and penalised those residents who paid their dues regularly. As a result, a number of inquiries had been received regarding the refunds or some recognition for their efforts to keep the city afloat," read the report.
The report shows that the bulk of the credits would go to commercial consumers with $6 012 026,24, followed by domestic consumers who will be credited with a total of $763 089,27.
Welfare organisations would get a credit of $16 322,64 while churches would get $47 802,37.
The last two organisations are exempted from paying rates and would mainly benefit from water charges account. Local authorities in the country cancelled consumers' outstanding balances that accrued between February 2009 and 30 June this year, in August.
Source - Byo24News
