By Correspondent
The City of Harare is in the process of migrating to a new billing platform, BIQ, after years of controversy and financial losses.
The move is expected to improving billing accuracy and transparency.
Addressing journalists at Town House on Wednesday, Mayor Jacob Mafume said the new system is expected to be more robust and interactive.
This will allow the Harare to address long-standing challenges related to inaccurate billing and limited resident engagement.
We are happy that we will be moving to a new billing platform which is BIQ.
“Work is already happening.
“We are pushing to make sure that the new billing platform will be more robust, more engaging and more interactive with residents, Mafume said.
Accurate Bills
He explained that the new platform will enable the city to establish accurate billing points.
This has been a key concern for residents who have frequently complained about errors and inconsistencies in municipal bills.
Mafume urged residents to be patient as the city transitions from the old system to the new platform.
However, he warned that some teething problems may arise during the crossover period.
We ask residents to bear with us as we do the crossover to this billing platform and deal with any teething problems, he said.
Broad Measures For Improved Services
The shift to BIQ forms part of a broader government directive for local authorities to digitise their operations.
The aim is to improve efficiency and service delivery.
We want to digitise many of our processes.
“That is what we have been asked to do by the government, Mafume added.
The City of Harare has in recent years faced mounting criticism over poor service delivery.
This has also included billing disputes and revenue leakages.
The new billing system is expected to help address these once fully implemented.
