THE Bulawayo business community and residents have welcomed the city council’s move to offer companies various incentives as well as its relaxation on the intensive water-shedding schedule.
Own correspondent
From Monday next week, the water shedding period would reduced from 48 hours per week to 24 hours per week.
Mayor Martin Moyo said this had been made possible due to some significant inflows into the city’s dams which have brought the overall combined percentage total to 40,4% as at January 8.
Bulawayo introduced water rationing in 2010 due to insignificant inflows into its feeder dams which are located in the low rainfall areas of Matabeleland South.
Several firms have relocated to Harare citing chronic water shortages and the general harsh economic environment while scores of other are listed in critical condition.
Thubelihle Ndlovu, a Mpopoma resident, said she was happy with the latest move by the city fathers to ease water rationing.
“We do not have functioning boreholes in our area to provide us with water during shortages, so this is a huge relief,” she said.
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Martin Thebe, a resident from Kumalo, said the relaxation of the punishing water shedding schedule was a positive step.
“It is our hope that water rationing will finally come to an end since it has been raining a lot this season,” he said.
Given Banda from Nkulumane said residents had been depending on rain water, risking diseases, but were now assured of clean water.
Sibonokuhle Mkhwananzi from Emganwini chipped in: “We are happy as long as we see positive results from the council not false promises.”
Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Association organising secretary Ambrose Sibindi said the initiative was welcome since it serves as a relief to residents who have been struggling to come to terms with the water rationing.
“We appreciate what the council has done because water has been one of the major problems in the city.
“We urge residents to use the water sparingly and not abuse the supply,” he said.
Winos Dube chairperson of Bulawayo Residents’ Association, describing the easing of water rationing as a good development, said it showed the city fathers were sensitive to the plight of residents.
He urged residents not to misuse water but use it sparingly. The council has also exempted companies from any water rationing.
Lucky Mlilo, the chief executive officer of the Association for Business in Zimbabwe, said the move augured well for the revival of collapsed industries in the city, pointing out that several firms had relocated to Harare in the past few years as a result of water shortages.
“This is a welcome initiative and we are sure as business people the industries in the city will be revived as most of the companies bank on water,” he said.
Announcing new incentives to industry at a Press conference on Friday, Moyo said these were part of efforts to improve industrial and commercial activity in the city. As part of the incentives, the council resolved to reverse penalties for firms with paid up December 2013 accounts.
It has also pledged to reverse interests charged on the December 2013 balance on condition that companies clear there dues before June 30 and is offering a once-off discount of 50% on company accounts balances as at December 31 2013 upon payment of the account before June 30.
Council has also reviewed downwards annual charges for business licences in what the mayor said “was in line with council’s position for a standstill budget for 2014”.
Council resolved in November last year not to effect any rates increases this year.
