Trust Rukwava
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Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) has lodged a formal petition with the City of Masvingo requesting for a downward review of US$- ZIG exchange rate for Council services.
The petition was served as a follow up to an earlier letter to the same office on August 16 2025
The Association is advocating for a rate which does not burden residents as Council is using an extortionate exchange rate of 1USD to 34.19 ZWG which is far above the official and black market rate.
MURRA cited that the Statutory Instrument allowing for the flexible exchange rate usage has expired hence the call for Council to review the rate downwards to align with the current official rate of approximately 1USD to 27 ZWG.
MURRA Chairperson Thomas Mbetu said this adjustment would greatly alleviate the financial burden on residents and ensure fairness in billing practices.
“We believe it is essential for the council to engage with residents and agree on a fair and inclusive rate structure. We urge Council to consider our request and take necessary steps to revise the exchange rate” said Mbetu.
Residents overwhelmingly voiced their concern over the burdensome rate at the 2026 Budget Consultation but Council has paid lip service to the concern under the pretext of minimizing the activities of illegal money changers at Council payment offices.
MURRA has vehemently dismissed the pretext as baseless and inadequate as it is not with the Council’s mandate to serve residents.
MURRA Director Anoziva Muguti said they strongly believe that alternative can be explored to address this issue without burdening residents.
“Our position is that Council should review the exchange rate and we have drawn their attention to a recent meeting held on September 22,
2025,at Flamboyant Hotel, Masvingo, with representatives from the Ministry of Finance, who emphasized that the Council’s current practice of using a non-official exchange rate for billing purposes is incorrect and should be reviewed.” said Muguti.
When contacted for comment Masvingo Mayor Aleck Tabe said he is not privy to the petition and its contents.
“Unfortunately l am not aware of the petition” said Tabe.
But Finance committee Chair person, Bernard Muchokwa assured residents that they were on the matter and discuccused it in their committee meeting early this week.
