Bill-weary Victoria Falls residents have urged their council which relies on billing residents to run their town, to find alternative sources of revenue, and ease off the rates burden on residents, New Zimbabwe reports.
Residents urged the council to take back some of the properties like beerhalls and parks they have leased to businesses at rates that have since been eroded by inflation and run them as the council. A resident that spoke to the publication said:
Take back the Rest Camp, Caravan Park, Truck Stop and beer halls. These are capital projects that can generate money for the council and relieve pressure on residents
Another resident also said:
We have several lodges and hotels as well as the Rainforest but the council is not benefiting from any of these. As a result, we as residents are carrying the burden of running this town. If you were serious as a council you should be getting something from these facilities.
For many years, we contribute at the budget meetings but the outcome is always against us. Our views are not considered. Right now we are paying exorbitant water bills and our meters are not working yet we complain about this every year.You have to take our views seriously than just to come here and make us ratify what you have already agreed on. We are lagging behind as Victoria Falls in terms of development and still have no tourism training school despite the town being the country’s tourism capital.