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Newly installed Harare Mayor His Worship Jacob Mafume has urged the government to come up with measures that will see the Harare economy in full operation.
His remarks during a live interview with TechMagTV come at a time the government is slowly opening up the economy following a COVID-19 induced lockdown.
The President Emmerson Mnangagwa more than two months ago declared a nationwide indefinite lockdown as a measure to combat the spread of the pandemic virus.
Although it was a prudent gesture then, the move has apparently affected several businesses that contribute to the local council’s purse.
Concerned about the slow opening up of businesses, Mafume said, “Due to Covid-19 pandemic the government imposed lockdown measures Combi operators, informal sector have been struggling to fend themselves or even to pay rates to city council hence if this people are having difficulties to go by the day the city of Harare will not be able to have capital to purchase special chemicals to treat water system or to fix roads only to mention a few,” he said.
He further emphasized the need for the government to reopen the economy noting that city of Harare needs to built more dams so that it will be able to deal with water shortages but with budget that was announced in march this year at 4.5 billion Zimbabwe dollars has been eroded by 800% its now equivalent to US$45 million it will not enough to rehabilitate the dams be.
“A Municipal water system that was built to cater 300 000 residents in the days pre-independence Rhodesia must now meet the needs of 2.5 million hence as the city of Harare we need the capital to built more dams and buy effective to clean water and it is only possible if the Harare economy is functional,” said Mafume.
The government have been relaxing lockdown measure in phases but informal sector and combi operators have been struggling to pick up the pieces after their operations have been affected significantly.
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