Harare Correspondent
Harare is facing a significant crisis in its emergency medical services, with only four out of the required 32 ambulances currently functional.
This alarming statistic was revealed by Councillor Costa Mande during a presentation of the city’s budget proposals for 2025.
To address this urgent issue, Mande has proposed the introduction of an emergency services levy of $1 per household. This levy aims to provide a dedicated source of funding for the city’s emergency services, which are in dire need of improvement. Additionally, a street lighting levy of $1 is also proposed to help fund the installation of street lighting infrastructure.
The total budget proposed for 2025 is US$548.2 million, with US$137.3 million allocated for capital expenditure and US$410.8 million for recurrent expenditure.
The council aims to raise US$482.3 million through various collections, property taxes, and licensing fees. A significant portion of the capital expenditure will focus on improving water, sanitation, hygiene, and infrastructure for small and medium enterprises.
From January 1 to September 30, 2024, Harare’s total revenues amounted to ZiG 2 billion, which is significantly lower than the ZiG 5 billion that was billed, highlighting the financial challenges the city is facing in maintaining essential services.
Zim GBC News©2024