adminWhinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
BULAWAYO City Council employees are now working overtime to effect water disconnections as the municipality battles to recover $115 million owed to the local authority by defaulting ratepayers.
Council is now disconnecting water even during weekends, including Sundays.
Some families came back from church yesterday to find their taps dry.
There were widespread disconnections in Kumalo, Parklands, Paddonhurst, North End, Mahatshula and several other low density suburbs.
Winos Dube, the chairperson of the Bulawayo United Residents’ Association said although as an association they were against disconnections, residents should strive to pay their water bills.
“We appreciate that residents are facing difficulties given the poor performance of the economy in general but they should strive to pay the little they raise every month,” he said.
Dube however said water disconnections should be the last resort because residents cannot survive without water.
Last month, the city council sent messages to residents informing defaulters of imminent water cuts.
“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 residents.
BCC’s senior public relations officer, Nesisa Mpofu, told The Chronicle then that the water cuts were meant to encourage residents to clear their debts.
She said the City of Bulawayo was embarking on the exercise in a bid to recover debts and encouraged residents to come forward to negotiate payment plans.
Council recently announced that revenue collection had declined by 12 percent compared to the same period last year.
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