Harare City Council engages private debt collectors

The Harare City Council is set to engage private debt collectors as the municipality seeks ways of maximizing revenue collection and clear off a $200 million debt owned it by residents.

According to a full council meeting held last week, the issue divided council as other councillors thought it unwise for council to engage debt collectors since it had workers who could collect the revenue.

Despite the reservations council passed a resolution to engage private debt collectors as debtors continue defaulting on both rates and services.

According to the minutes of the meeting, the finance and development committee noted with concern the amounts owed by various stakeholders and felt that there was need to take measures to recover the money.