In a bold move, business owners, church organizations, and residents of Nembudziya Growth Point have joined forces to protest against the Gokwe Rural District Council’s proposed 2025 service rates. The proposed hikes, exceeding 300% in some cases, have sparked widespread outrage, with stakeholders labeling them “anti-business” and “economically irrational.”

The council’s decision to slap churches with a whopping 350% increase has raised eyebrows and ire. “Why punish churches as if they are making a profit?” asked a church leader, who wished to remain anonymous. “These are places of worship that provide social and spiritual services to our communities, often in the absence of government support.”

The business community is also up in arms, arguing that the proposed tariffs threaten the survival of small businesses and contradict the government’s efforts to support entrepreneurship. “No serious investor will choose to invest where rates are higher than in Harare or even Gokwe South,” said Donewell Bangure, a local investor.

The community has accused the council of failing to provide justification for the steep hikes, especially in the absence of improved services delivery. Residents point to persistent challenges such as poor road infrastructure, erratic electricity supply, and unreliable water supply.

 

The residents and business operators are demanding that the council suspend the proposed 2025 rates and initiate an inclusive consultative process. Will the council listen, or will the community’s voices fall on deaf ears? The battle for fair rates has only just begun.

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