The City Of Harare is reportedly seeking permission from the government to charge some businesses rates in foreign currency, The Herald reports. The move is aimed at increasing the city father’s revenues which might also improve service delivery according to the publication.
In explaining the motive behind the need to charge USD rates, Harare town clerk Hosiah Chisango said:
There are certain areas that without US dollar, cannot be run efficiently including water treatment chemicals and fuel purchases.
The council has already passed a resolution to quote rentals and land purchases in hard currency. Minutes seen by the publication on the issue reads in part:
Council authorises the town clerk and the acting finance director to quote lease rentals as well as land purchase prices in a stable currency with the actual payments being made in prevailing equivalent official interbank rate at the date of the actual payment
Harare Residents Trust director Mr Precious Shumba while speaking to the publication supposed the move by the city to levy rates in USD as he said it might improve service delivery:
The central Government, through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and its different agencies, like the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, have to authorise local authorities to charge their rates in foreign currency.
The citizens would be served better with enhanced service provision than suffer the consequences of deteriorating social services while paying in our local currency
More: The Herald