20% rates discount for prompt payments

Harare City Council will offer discounts of up to 20 percent to residents who pay their rates on time in a bid to boost revenue collection and improve service delivery.

Addressing journalists in Harare, Mayor Jacob Mafume said the discount window will run from January 19 to February 15 and is aimed at encouraging residents to voluntarily clear their outstanding bills before the council resorts to tougher enforcement measures.

"This is a measure to encourage everyone to pay up before the council assumes harsh measures which many people would consider hard and cruel," Mafume said.

He revealed that residents are the city's largest debtors, owing the local authority about ZiG$8 billion in unpaid rates and charges, a situation that has significantly affected the council's ability to deliver services.

Mafume said the initiative aligns with directives from President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has instructed the Mayor's Office to prioritise improved service delivery as part of the government's broader governance reforms.

He described the discount scheme as a "quid pro quo" arrangement, linking residents' willingness to pay rates with the quality of services they expect from the city.

In addition to the discount programme, Mafume said government plans to introduce loyalty points and account credits for residents who consistently keep their municipal accounts up to date.

"We don't want to punish those who have been faithfully paying," he said.

The mayor also urged residents who are unable to settle their bills in full during the discount period to engage the city council to arrange payment plans. He warned that failure to do so would leave the council with no option but to pursue legal action to recover outstanding debts.