Chitungwiza Revenue collection rises to 50 percent

Chitungwiza deputy mayor sworn in | The Herald — Clr Kiven Mutimbanyoka (L) with Acting Town Clerk Evangelista Machona and an unidentified council employee

Audrey Galawo

Chitungwiza Municipality has more than doubled financial independence through efficient and strategic revenue collection, an initiative that has seen the local authority clearing all salary arrears.

Revenue collection has reportedly increased from 27% to 50%, it emerged at a stakeholders meeting convened at the municipal head office on Tuesday, January 17.

Chitungwiza Acting Mayor, Clr Kiven Mutimbanyoka, said insufficient funds due to inefficient revenue collection has been affecting the budgets, including failure to pay direct staff and settle basic bills.

This scenario had been affecting the council’s activities due to low revenue collection as some businesses were also run unregistered and unmonitored.

“As a council we are pleased with what we have achieved so far and we considered paying all salary arrears first because we want our employees to be motivated to work.

“We have also managed to pay their November and December salaries without borrowing from the bank,” Clr Mutimbanyoka said.

He also said CM has also managed to buy Personal Protective Equipment for employees as well as equipment to make their work much easier.

The Acting Mayor assured residents that the funds collected will be used for the development of the town including fixing local clinics, sewer and water challenges.

Meanwhile, the council, according to a flighted notice, has urged local business owners to renew their licenses before the closing date.

“This refers to a shop license grace period for January 2023 which is ending on January 20.

“Council has seen it fit in the spirit of ease of doing business to extend the licensing grace period for license renewal.

“This was meant to give ample time to health inspectors to clear the inspection backlog without inconveniencing its business clients,” the Municipality said.