Victoria Falls ratepayers reject council’s proposed 70 percent tariff hike

BY AWAKHIWE KHUMALO

Victoria Falls ratepayers have rejected the city council’s proposed 2023 budget that will see tariffs going up by 70 percent in United States dollars if it is approved.

Ratepayers made their position known during a budget consultative meeting attended mainly by the business community in the city on Friday.

They urged council to take into consideration the fact that the city, which is heavily reliant on the tourism industry, was still trying to recover from the prolonged Covid-19 lockdowns between 2020 and last year.

If the budget is approved, 50 cubic litres of water in high density suburbs will be charged at US$1.07 while in medium density it will cost US1.13 and US$1.35 for low density areas.

Expecting mothers, who are not booked at the council clinics will be required to pay US$40 for services while those with prior books will part with US$14 in what would be a 100 percent increase.

Cemetery fees for adults will be increased from US$8 to US$15 while search fees will go up from US$ 175 to US$250.

Council defended the proposed tariff increases, saying they were mainly driven by the local authority’s failure to recover $500 million it is owed by residents.

Residents, however, implored the city fathers to be sensitive because most residents were struggling to make ends meet and will not afford the proposed tariffs.

“It’s not the council’s fault that residents are not paying the bills,” said a resident.

“The economic situation is not conducive.

“Council will argue that it has to increase the tariffs and burden the people who are able to pay to cover those people who are genuinely vulnerable and that’s pure inequality.”

Another resident added: “Judging from the salaries that most residents are getting, it is going to be difficult.

“So I propose that we put a budget that will be reasonable for these families,who have children to look after.”

The ratepayers were unanimous that a 12.5 percent tariff increase will be reasonable for the city.

The proposed budget will be formally tabled before at the council chambers on Monday.

Other residents expressed displeasure over council’s move to continue to bill them for services it was no longer rendering.

“Why are we paying for services that are not being provided?” one resident queried.

“There are areas that do not have street lights and sewer reticulation, but the residents there are paying for those things.

“We should not pay for services that are not being rendered to us.”