adminNqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
THE Bulawayo City Council has started disconnecting water to defaulting residents as it battles to recover $100 million owed by rate-payers.
Yesterday, the city council sent messages to residents informing them of the latest development.
“Please be advised that Bulawayo City Council has started disconnecting water with immediate effect. You are therefore, encouraged to pay your accounts,” reads a text message sent to a resident.
BCC’s senior public relations officer, Nesisa Mpofu, told The Chronicle that the move is meant to encourage residents to clear their debts.
“The City of Bulawayo is embarking on the water cut off exercise in a bid to recover debts owed by consumers. The City of Bulawayo is encouraging residents to come forward and negotiate payment plans,” said Mpofu.
Council recently announced that its revenue collection has declined by 12 percent compared to the same period last year.
BCC said although residents’ debts were written off in 2013, what they owe has since sky rocketed to over $100 million, thus affecting service delivery.
During the 2018 budget consultative meeting, a senior council official said Ward One has the highest number of defaulters owing $19 million to the municipality.
One ward covers Bulawayo Central Business District.
Bulawayo residents’ representatives said the municipality was being too harsh considering the economic situation in the country.
Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Association (BPRA) communications officer Zibusiso Dube said: “The council seems to be inconsiderate. It seems to be lacking understanding of what’s happening on the ground. Everyone knows that the country is going through a difficult economic time. Some people aren’t working and others, even though working, aren’t getting paid.”
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