The Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Association is not happy with the increase in rates that was effected by council last week.
By Fanuel Chinowaita, Resident
The increase at this time by more than 500% is applying salt on bleeding wounds of people who are already suffering due to economic hardships in the country.
The whole of last year people were not working because of the pandemic, which has killed millions of people around the world.
Those who were working never received an increment of 100%.
The main reasons we are demanding for a downward review of rates are:
- Consultations were not done properly as council is hiding behind COVID-19.
- Wrong timing of the implementation.
- The percentages are just too much and unbearable.
It is unfortunate that council increase rates, while people are locked in their houses due to COVID-19-induced pandemic restrictions. The council is forgetting that most of its ratepayers are informal traders who are at home not working.
An increase at this juncture is uncalled for, especially when people are struggling to get food for their children during these hard times.
Government should not impose restrictions without giving its people something to survive on. There is no need to increase rates during such hard times. What a burden to the poor.
We, therefore, demand that these rates be revised downwards and in future when wanting to increase them, people must be consulted.
