BY BRENDA NCUBE
The Hwange Local Board (HLB), which administers a larger part of Hwange district, has embarked on an exercise of collecting vital statistics to compile a comprehensive database of all properties in its area of jurisdiction.
The process is aimed at improving the authority’s billing efficiency, taxation, levying and other revenue streams.
Speaking to VicfallsLive, Dumisani Nsingo spokesperson for HLB said the exercise will help determine property ownership.
“This exercise will give us appropriate information on the land at our disposal and will ensure land use planning, development control, as well as levying of users,” Nsingo said.
“We should be having information about every piece of land in our area. This entails who owns it and how much they owe us because that is where our main funds come from for us to deliver service to the people.” he said
Nsingo added that the exercise comes against the backdrop that a large number of properties were not appearing on Council’s billing system.
Over the past few years, Hwange has experienced massive infrastructural development in the construction of houses and commercial buildings and according to Nsingo, the exercise will inform the local board’s Valuation Roll which will be carried out in April.
“The Valuation Roll will be undertaken through utilisation of the Devolution Fund,” he reveale.
“In terms of the Urban Councils Act Chapter 29:15 section 247, local authorities are mandated to carry out the general valuation roll of properties within their jurisdiction, within specified periods.
“The general valuation roll will capture newly constructed properties, the improvements and subdivisions made in the last two decades. New suburbs and buildings have no market ratings at the moment.” he said
The exercise is expected to be completed in March.