Staff Reporter
Kwekwe City Council proposes to maintain a standstill budget for 2025, an official has said.
Addressing stakeholders at a meeting last week, Kwekwe City Council Director of Finance Rejoice Dandira said the local authority proposes a standstill budget on refuse, sewer, water and other tariffs.
“On the billables we are proposing to maintain the existing tariffs. On refuse we have to maintain the tariff as we need fuel which is sold in US dollars. Maintenance work is also needed at the dumpsite even if we move to the landfill. We are proposing a standstill on refuse with high density paying US$5, low density US$6, institutions $10 with an extra bin charge of US$5 and Industry and commerce paying US$15, extra bin charge of $7,50 and the cost for daily collection is $20,” she said.
She said the proposed tariff is way cheaper than what is being charged by other local authorities like Mutare which pegged US$43,76 for industry and commerce as well as Kariba which charges US$7 for high density.
On sewer it is being proposed that high density pay a fixed monthly charge of US$4, US$5 for low density, US$10 for institutions and US$15 for industry and commerce. US$0,40 is proposed on volumetric.
Dandira said the costs are informed by the power and maintenance costs.
She said council is proposing a fixed monthly charge of US$4 on water for high density and low density, US$10 for institutions.
“On Redcliff we are charging US$25 and on variables its US$0,85per cubic for high density, US$0,90 for low density, US$1,44 for institutions as well as Redcliff. For water the major cost driver is electricity at the water treatment plant as well as the purchasing of the water from Zinwa. We also pay a subcatchment levy of US#2 000 to Sebakwe and insurance, this and other costs contributes to the cost of water,” she said.
She said for industry and commerce, council uses stepped up billing with the commerce consumption range 0 to 50 cubic pegged at $1.60, 51 to 100cubic on US$1,75 and 101cubic and above paying US$1,90 per cubic.
“For industry 0 to 100 its US$1,60, from 101 to 500 its US$1,75 and US$1,90 for 501 and above,” she said.
The budget also proposes a fire, public lighting and education levy on a standstill.
“On fire levy we still want to buy a foam fire tender so high density will is pegged on US$1, low density US$1, institutions US$5, industry US$16,70 and commerce is on US$10. On public lighting we need to finish areas that were not serviced mainly in low density areas. High density is pegged at US$1, low density US$1, Institutions US$5, Commerce US$10 and industry US$16,70.
On education levy we want to finish off the block at Mbizo 21 school and the other in Ward 12 classroom block. On high and low density we are proposing US$1, institutions US$5, commerce is on US$10 and industry is o US$16,70,” she said.
She said for rates council is proposing US$0,31 per square metre and for those using values it proposes 0,032 per $1 value of the property.
She said the billables are subject to vat as it is government policy.
