GWERU residents will have to fork out over $35 000 in penalty fees for building houses without approved plans as well as in excess of $3 000 for structures that are not inspected by council.
According to a new tariff schedule for this year, the building penalty for unapproved plans in high-density areas has been hiked from $1 500 to $35 473, medium-density from $2 000 to $47 297, while that of low-density suburbs has been increased from $2 500 to
$59 121.
Construction of houses in high-density areas without council inspection now attracts a fine of
$3 547 from $150, medium-density $4 730 from $200, while in the low-density, it has been hiked to $5 912 from $250.
“We understand residents are facing economic hardships, but you will realise that most of these figures seem very high but they are in line with the current market forces,” he said.
But Gweru Residents Forum director Charles Mazorodze said council hiked tariffs without consulting residents.