Nathi Masuku
INYATHI Business Association has taken a dig at Bubi Rural District Council accusing it of failing to effectively provide services to allow their businesses to operate efficiently.
The association which is composed of businessmen around Inyathi accused the local authority of being anti-development.
Speaking to The Zambezi Times, Inyathi Business Association committee member Sydney Muyambi said efforts to engage the local authority to improve service delivery has been futile.
“Our main objective is to look into the affairs of our businesses, how we relate with council, government, how we relate with each other as business people, just for the purposes of growth and sustainability of our investment. Inyathi is an upcoming business community, it’s still small but prospects of growth are there,” Muyambi said.
“Our major challenge is the relationship with council when it comes to the issue of levies, sometimes we don’t see eye to eye with the local authority on how they come up with levies. It’s unfortunate that Bubi is refusing to be like other RDCs, their levies are very high.
“Where a shop in Bulawayo is paying US$300, we are paying a double fee. We have tried to engage the council and they will tell you the circumstances are different but you find a shop in Bulawayo paying US$100 but here one will be paying US$500 for the same service. Even the rates in Nkayi are far much lower than here,” he lamented.
He further noted that while prospects of growth for the Inyathi growth point are high, the local authority was frustrating development.
“On the issue of development, the rate at which we are moving as a community looking at the market, is encouraging. There are new businesses and the place is growing yet the services available are limited. We don’t have street lights, parking places are not there. Most of these shops do not have stand numbers, we don’t have addresses for all the shops here. We don’t have street names. Why would the council do that during this age of civilization?” he asked.
“The growth point is growing but we cannot access loans because our shops have no title deeds, so I cannot go to a bank and look for a loan without that. Council has promised us but the rate at which it’s happening is very slow. We need to have money so that we can invest.”
