Harare Mayor Accuses Central Govt Of "Frustrating Efforts To Alleviate The Water Crisis"

Harare Mayor, Hebert Gomba has said that the government’s decision to block the Harare City Council’s proposed Budget was worsening the water crisis in the capital.

Speaking to Zim Morning Post, Gomba said that the local government authority was to raise enough revenue sufficient for the effective provision of goods and services. He added:

The interbank rate is changing every day and we buy our chemicals using foreign currency. If they stop us from increasing the rates, how do they expect us to meet our services delivery obligations?

His remarks come after the central government turned down the city fathers’ proposed budget which sought to raise rates to ZWL3.50 from ZWL0.80, with housing rates set to move to ZWL50 and ZWL25 for retail rentals.

Harare and almost all other local government authorities are failing to promptly provide potable water to ratepayers citing a lack of sufficient funds for water treatment chemicals. They also cite dwindling water levels in their water sources.

More: Zim Morning Post