Harare City Council Increasing Tariffs For All Market Places
Harare City Council has resolved to increase tariffs in all market places by at least 100%. The decision was adopted as part of the local authority’s strategy to boost revenue collection meant to sustain operations.
The subnational government is also reportedly adopting an electronic system of revenue collection to minimise revenue leakage. It has also proposed $8 per day as temporary lease charge for traders occupying open spaces in residential areas.
Minutes of a recently held meeting of the Informal Sector Committee reveal that several measures are going to be implemented to generate revenue from market places. The minutes note that the Director of housing and community services, Mr Addmore Nhekairo, said:
For the efficient and effective revenue collection, the following strategies will be implemented in all markets. We will review all markets tariffs, conduct weekly blitz enforcing on payments and regular raids by enforcement team on illegal traders.
The minutes further revealed that the adjustment in the collection of revenue at Mupedzanhamo Flea Market is expected to increase revenue. The council now requires market place occupants to pay on a daily basis. The minutes also disclosed that Harare City Council is receiving an average of $104 000 a month from the flea market. They further read:
It was anticipated that more revenue would be realised once Mupedzanhamo Flea Market had been converted to a daily payment as the system required that with the new payments council expects to rake in an average $227 700 monthly.
More: The Herald
