Early this month, Bikita Rural District Council chief executive Peter Chibhi who was under investigation for several corruption cases committed suicide.
By Tonderai Saharo
BIKITA Rural District Council saw its revenue collection for the first quarter of 2021 going down by 30%.
The drop has been mainly attributed to the effects of the devastating Covid-19 pandemic, which has seen businesses closing due to lockdowns to contain the virus.
Bikita RDC chief executive Peter Chibhi told NewZimbabwe.com last week that during the first quarter of 2021 they managed only construct classroom blocks at three schools and the projects were still in their infancy.
“The summary from what is happening now, in brief, is that construction of blocks at Musiya Primary School block is at 7%, Tamuka Secondary School block is 11% and Manunure Secondary school 9% complete,” he said.
By Tonderai Saharo
NEGOTIATIONS between Bikita rural district council and ratepayers has resulted in the two parties settling for a 30 percent downward review, despite the local authority maintaining last year’s rates.
BRDC CEO Peter Chibhi said the settlement was reached after all stakeholders noted the economic effects induced by the Covid-19 pandemic in the district’s financial flows.
The reduction means rates will now be pegged at a minimum charge of $32 per month.
He admitted that settlement has forced the local authority to scale down on operations only focusing on essential services, such as refuse collection at Nyika growth point and rehabilitation of the district’s major roads.
NewZimbabwe.com – The Zimbabwe News You Trust is Zimbabwe’s leading online newspaper and published by New Zimbabwe Media Ltd. The platform brings you the latest breaking News, Business, Showbiz, Sports, Diaspora and gives you everything you’ve come to expect and love.