By Advent Shoko
The Harare City Council has extended its 20 percent rates discount to 7 March 2026, giving residents more time to clear outstanding bills in a desperate push to boost revenue and revive collapsing service delivery.
The discount, first announced in January, was initially set to run from 19 January to 15 February 2026. It applies to ratepayers who settle their arrears within the stipulated period.
In a public notice seen by ZiGoats and signed by Acting Town Clerk Eng P.M. Moyo on February 13, the city urged residents to take advantage of the extension and support its vision of becoming a “Smart City of Choice by 2030.”
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Why The Harare City Council Rates Discount Extension Matters
The extension is not just goodwill. It is survival.
In January, Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume revealed that the city is owed more than ZiG$8,4 billion by residents, companies, Government departments and agencies. Residents alone account for nearly 80 percent of that debt.
That financial hole has left council struggling to provide basic services. Mafume said Harare’s service delivery index averaged just 52 percent in the last quarter of 2025, far below what is expected of a functioning capital city.
Water shortages, uncollected garbage, damaged roads and broken streetlights have become everyday realities in many suburbs.
- What Residents Get Under the initiative:
- 20% discount for clearing arrears
- Extra incentives for those paying in foreign currency
- Loyalty points and account credits for residents who are fully paid up
The council says the goal is to push revenue collection to at least 80 percent, in line with its 2026 targets.
Where to Pay
Residents can settle their bills through several platforms, including:
- CABS 4th Street Branch (Account No. 1003655211)
- EcoCash (151100#)
- OneWallet (*554#)
- Topup.co.zw (Utilities – COH)
- Dial *828# then select COH
Proof of payment can be sent to the council via email, and residents can also request their bills electronically.
The Bigger Picture
Council says it is aligning operations with Minimum Service Delivery Standards covering eight key areas: water supply, sanitation, waste management, roads and lighting, corporate governance, environmental management, public health, and housing.
But without money, those standards remain paper promises.
For many Harare families already battling high living costs, clearing arrears may not be easy. Yet for council, the message is blunt: pay up, or services will continue to deteriorate. The extended deadline now gives residents three more weeks to decide.
The question is whether they can, and whether council can turn collections into visible improvements on the ground.
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