In just three weeks, the Gaborone City Council has collected nearly P16 million in arrears totalling P40 million.
Addressing full council yesterday, the Mayor of Gaborone, Haskins Nkaigwa, said the figure was made up of P11 million collected over the counter and P5 million collected through First National Bank and Barclays Bank in an arrangement with Gaborone City Council (GCC).
In a subsequent interview with Mmegi, the Mayor explained that the council had collected the money by following people to their homes and businesses.He encouraged people to arrange with the council to pay their arrears in instalments and re-assured citizens of the capital city that there would be no consequences from visiting the council to make such arrangements.The Mayor added that more measures should be put in place for GCC to collect more because arrears impacted on service delivery.Nkaigwa took the opportunity to remind people of the need to inform the council of their changes of address when they moved house in order to avoid undelivered mail and bills. Meanwhile, GCC will levy P50 for stray animals in order to ensure that Gaborone remains a livestock-free zone. "We hope management will expedite the process to ensure a livestock-free Gaborone," the Mayor said.
