Zimpapers Logo

Innocent Ruwende Senior Reporter
Harare City Council yesterday commissioned 25 service vehicles worth $450 000 with Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni imploring residents to pay their bills to enable the city to provide quality services as well as re-equip its critical divisions.

Officiating at the event at Town House, Councillor Manyenyeni said it was very difficult for residents to claim services while they are not paying their bills with the city now owed more than $750 million by various stakeholders.

“The important part that the residents must play is to be compliant in terms of rates. For us to afford these vehicles or other plant and equipment we need money. The resident must be committed and compliant,” he said.

“It is very difficult for a resident to claim service delivery from the city when they have not paid their rates. The message first and foremost is residents be part of the city’s finances. Make your contributions which come into our coffers.”

He said the second obligation for residents was to relate with council by letting the local authority know their problems and issues which needed attention.

“Let us know where the problems are, which issues need to be attended to. Use our call centres. Use our district offices. Use our councillors, let us be reachable. Let us be talking to each other. It is the only way both sides can play a part in making Harare more serviceable and more liveable.”

Turning to the vehicles, Cllr Manyenyeni said the delivery of 25 NP200 Nissan trucks will capacitate a number of the city’s departments which have been plagued by poor mobility.

He said council was on a mission to re-equip its divisions in terms of motor vehicles, plant and equipment.
“What we are witnessing today is a welcome addition and should change the way we service our city in areas of development control, the City Architect’s Department and Works (Department). All those areas are desperate for hands-on activity which has been curtailed or compromised because we did not have capacity because our fleet has been depleted,” he said.

“If well looked after these vehicles should be able to serve the city for at least seven years . . “, the Mayor said.