Gwanda RDC Doubles Development Levy to US$2 Despite Affordability Concerns

By Staff Reporter

GWANDA — Gwanda Rural District Council (RDC) has doubled its development levy from US$1 to US$2 per person, despite concerns from councillors that the increase could worsen the financial burden on struggling rural households.

The decision was taken during the council’s third-quarter full council meeting on Tuesday, 14 October 2026, where councillors questioned residents’ ability to pay, the inclusion of children in the levy and the need to exempt vulnerable groups.

Ward 15 councillor Emmanuel Ndlovu warned that residents had not had sufficient time to adjust to the existing US$1 levy, which was introduced in 2025 following consultations after the charge had risen to US$5 in 2024.

He cautioned that another increase could discourage payments and undermine the council’s revenue collection efforts.

“In 2024, the development levy went up to US$5, and in 2025, after consultations, it changed to US$1 per head. Now we want to raise it again to US$2,” Ndlovu said.

“Residents are still trying to adapt to the US$1 levy. We must give people time because they cannot afford it if it goes to US$2. I fear that a lot of people will not pay, and the money will not come.”

Council vice-chairperson Mandlenkosi Moyo defended the increase, arguing that the levy was necessary to finance development projects in rural communities.

However, he warned against imposing excessive financial pressure on residents, saying the charge should support development without placing communities under further strain.

Moyo described the proposed US$2 levy as reasonable compared with the US$3 reportedly charged in Beitbridge.

Ward 8 councillor Zwelihle Nyathi challenged the practice of charging every individual in a household, particularly children, arguing that the levy should instead be collected at household level.

“Back then, one household was required to pay the development levy, and only the father or owner of the household would pay. But now, when you say the children must also pay, I do not think it is right,” Nyathi said.

Ward 2 councillor Zwelibanzi Mpofu also raised concerns about affordability, saying many rural residents were already struggling to pay council rates because of limited financial resources.

He warned that increasing the levy could further weaken compliance, even where residents understood that the money was intended to fund community development.

“A lot of people in the rural areas do not pay rates, and the reason why they do not pay rates is that they do not have the money,” Mpofu said.

“We even explain to them that the money they are paying develops their community, but they honestly do not have the money.”

Meanwhile, Ward 5 councillor Simbarashe Lisimati called for clear guidelines on who should be liable to pay the levy.

He proposed exempting children under the age of 18 and people aged over 60, arguing that the council needed to define the categories of residents required to pay before implementing the increase.

Despite the concerns over affordability, household-based payments and exemptions for vulnerable residents, councillors voted to increase the development levy to US$2 per person.

The increase is expected to raise questions about how the council will balance its need to finance rural development with residents’ ability to meet their financial obligations.

Clarify whether the levy increase passedTighten the repeated affordability points.

Source: CITE