Diana Nherera
HARARE Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume has raised concern about the poor condition of council buildings and urged the acting town clerk, Engineer Phakamile Mabhena Moyo, to take action.
This follows his visit to the City Sports Centre for a donation event by the War Veterans League, which included a solar-powered borehole and security improvements.
鈥淭he state of our buildings, town clerk, the state of the city sports, let鈥檚 look at them. Every time I have to apologise when I get to a council facility.
鈥淭he place doesn鈥檛 look nice but there are simple things and so forth, (which can be done to) spruce it up,鈥 he said during a recent council meeting.
Some building in the CBD are now prone to fire outbreaks, which has resulted in tenants losing their goods.
On Saturday, a fire suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault linked to a corn snacks production unit, gutted XGX Mall, which housed over 40 tuckshops.
Traders said they lost stock worth thousands of US dollars.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.
鈥淪everal shops were destroyed and no one was injured,鈥 he said.
Meanwhile, Clr Mafume said ZB Financial Holdings had presented digital solutions targeting SMEs and health services to committee chairpersons and council management this month. The bank aims to partner with departments to digitise market registration, banking fees, and community-based health insurance.
鈥淚t鈥檚 now called Community-based Equity Fund where ratepayers will be paying US$2 per year in these communities that we are targeting and in turn, receive council services using that.
鈥淭hat US$2, if the community pays, will be able to improve services in that community. We are starting with Harare South, Mbare and so forth to buy them the equipment they require and other necessities in health facilities,鈥 he said.
Clr Mafume added that UN organisations that donated US$700 000 towards the construction of Tariro Clinic are looking to contribute a similar amount for the community-based equity fund or health insurance fund.