'Council's service delivery can not be celebrated by residents'

Harare Residents Trust has warned the Harare City Council to stop expecting the residents to celebrate its failure in service delivery at the time when the local authority is sending summons to residents to pay rates.

"The City of Harare should not expect that residents celebrate their failure to provide essential services. Sending out summons is a total waste of time because the Harare Residents' Trust is continuing to educate residents that they should at least pay $10 every month in rentals and for rates on services rendered," the trust said.

"The Harare Residents Trust urges residents to desist from entering into payment plans where they are coerced and intimidated by municipal revenue officers to agree to pay amounts ranging from $50 to $100 or more every month to settle outstanding debts."

The trust said the moment residents have entered into a payment plan, the council now uses that to make atrocious demands on them, and will not give them peace by always demanding payment, even where they have no money on them.

"The HRT also urges residents to religiously pay the $10 every month and keep their receipts without skipping any month. All residents who have received summons should approach the HRT for immediate help in responding to them. No service no payment is the way to go," said the trust.