Harare collects $4,1bn in seven months as revenue gap persists

Source: Harare collects $4,1bn in seven months as revenue gap persists –** herald**

Remember Deketeke

Municipal Correspondent

HARARE City Council collected about ZiG4,1 billion (59 percent of its potential revenue) between January and July this year, while accrued income within the same period stood at ZiG6,987 billion, latest council figures show.

The figures, contained in the council’s January-to-July 2026 budget performance update, show that monthly collections fluctuated during the period, rising from ZiG557,25 million in January to ZiG588 million in February and ZiG601 million in March before declining to ZiG552 million in April.

Collections recovered to ZiG570,53 million in May and ZiG578 million in June, before reaching the period’s highest monthly figure of ZiG666 million in July.

However, the council’s monthly collections remained below the potential revenue available in each of the seven months.

In July, for instance, the council collected ZiG666 million against a potential ZiG1,049 billion, giving a collection efficiency of 64 percent.

January recorded a 59 percent collection efficiency, which improved to 66 percent in February before falling to 57 percent in March, 55 percent in April and May and 56 percent in June.

The figures come as the council faces mounting financial pressures, including rising debtors, rising creditors and the downstream effects of inadequate service delivery.

The council’s debtors increased significantly during the period, with the total debtors’ figure reaching ZiG11,219 billion by July.

Domestic debtors accounted for the largest component, rising from ZiG4,774 billion in January to ZiG6,364 billion by July.

Commercial debtors increased from ZiG1,655 billion to ZiG2,261 billion, while industrial debtors rose from ZiG1,275 billion to ZiG1,407 billion over the same period.

Government debtors also increased from ZiG274 million to ZiG519 million, while sundry debtors rose from ZWG39 million to ZiG54 million.

Debtors in Dormitory Towns increased from ZiG417 million in January to ZiG612 million by July.

The growth in outstanding debts is a major concern for the local authority as the council seeks to improve its capacity to provide water, sanitation, refuse collection, road maintenance and other municipal services.

On expenditure, the council reported accrued expenses of ZiG4,896 billion between January and July, with employment costs accounting for ZiG2,34 billion.

Capital expenditure stood at ZiG508 million during the period.

The council also reported electricity expenditure of ZiG1,323 billion, while creditors stood at ZiG2,252 billion by July.

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