· HCC proposes a 20 percent infrastructure development levy
· Zinara released ZWL12.9 million for road rehabilitation last year
THE Harare City Council (HCC) has proposed to introduce a 20 percent infrastructure development levy on new developments effective this January to enable them to fund road rehabilitation programmes.
In a statement, the Finance and Development Committee Chairperson this week, Luckson Mukunguma said the municipality is optimistic that Zimbabwe National Roads Authority (ZINARA) will increase disbursements to fast track road rehabilitation.
“ZINARA released ZWL$12.9 million towards roads rehabilitation last year, a far cry from the requirements of the city and the council hopes for an increase in disbursements for the construction of roads.”
“When the vehicle-licensing portfolio was still under the City we could collect an average of $9 million annually. The vehicle population in Harare was way over 450 000 and if the City was managing the vehicle licensing portfolio on its own we would be able to carry to road construction and major maintenance works,” he said.
Mukunguma confirmed that HCC was not getting enough funds from ZINARA and the City’s reliance on ZINARA for funds was resulting in failure to initiate the roads construction and maintenance programmes fully.
HCC also said the fees would be calculated as a percentage of the total cost of the construction project to ensure that property developers comply with the relevant statutes and by- laws.