Levy scandal as Harare buys only 2 ambulances

The Harare City Council has confirmed that only two ambulances have been procured using the Emergency Services Levy, despite collecting over ZiG19.7 million from residents as of September 30.

The disclosure has fuelled public frustration and renewed allegations of non-transparent expenditure surrounding the city's three new ring-fenced levies — the public lighting levy, water levy, and emergency services levy — introduced at the start of 2025.

Residents say they expected visible improvements, including new ambulances every month and the restoration of street lighting, funded by the levies.

City spokesperson Stanley Gama said the Emergency Services Levy was intended to capitalise fire and ambulance services.

"By September 30, ZiG45.9 million was billed, with ZiG19.7 million being collected. Two ambulances were procured from the collected funds," he said.

He added that under the public lighting levy, ZiG39.3 million had been billed and ZiG16.9 million collected, with two operational platforms procured for the lighting section.

Billing for the levies began in March, not January as previously believed, Gama clarified.

Regarding the special water infrastructure levy, he said ZiG77.9 million had been billed and ZiG33.5 million collected.

"Processes are currently underway to have foreign currency payments facilitated by the authorities for foreign currency obligations," he said.

However, Harare Residents Trust director Precious Shumba said residents should not have to ask how their money is being used.

"We should not have to look for explanations; we should be seeing ambulances delivered, tower lights installed, and water infrastructure upgraded," he said.

"The emergency services levy ought to be purchasing at least three ambulances monthly. We demand to see the purchases and commissioning of new assets at clinics every month."

Shumba accused the City of deliberately withholding information from residents.

"They hide information like it's part of their culture. That's why we've called on President Mnangagwa to release the Justice Maphios Cheda Commission of Inquiry report into Harare's financial management," he said.

The city's last tower lights were switched off in July after Council failed to settle ballooning debts with Zesa Holdings, despite introducing the public lighting levy meant to address such issues.

Mounting frustration has prompted some councillors to call for district offices to directly manage levy funds for essential services like street lighting.

During a recent full council meeting, Ward 14 Councillor Costa Mhande voiced residents' anger:

"It doesn't make sense that people are paying, yet they remain in darkness. They are asking what the money appearing on their bills is for."

In some suburbs, streetlights have been off for over four months due to unpaid Zesa bills.

Currently, low-density residents are paying an extra US$3 for the water levy, US$1.50 for emergency services, and US$1 for public lighting.
High-density residents pay US$1 for each levy, while commercial and industrial properties pay an additional 7.5% of their water charge, plus US$2 for emergency services and US$1 for lighting.