Kwekwe City Town House
BY MICHAEL MAGORONGA
Kwekwe City Council has set aside $25 000 in its 2018 proposed budget for the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) units at the inter-city long distance bus terminus and cash offices to curb pilferage and underhand dealings by municipal police.
CCTVs, which will also be installed at banking halls, are part of the council's measures to curb thefts and unscrupulous acts by municipal police officers and boost the local authority's coffers.
Speaking during a recent budget consultative meeting in the city, mayor Matenda Madzoke , said the move would go a long way in boosting the council's low revenue inflows. The city proposed a standstill budget of US$26 million for 2018.
"We intend to install the CCTVs so that we minimise thefts by our staff. As you might be aware, our coffers are in the negative and we are doing everything in our power to boost them and this is one of them," he said.
Madzoke said all operations at the bus terminus would be monitored by an official at the civic centre.
The move comes at a time when the local authority, which owes creditors over $30million, is grappling to pay debts that it owes to service providers such as the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority. It is also struggling to meet its statutory obligations to the National Social Security Authority and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
Meanwhile, council has availed funds for the completion the second phase of the construction of the terminus.
Minister of Transport, Jorum Gumbo last year commissioned the bus port after completion of the first phase and described it as one of the best in the country and urged other local authorities to emulate it.
The installation will be another plus for the state-of-the-art terminus which also boasts of convenient shops, pay toilets, call room and canteens.
The second phase, expected to cost an estimated $2 million, is expected to be complete by year- end. LOCAL
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