adminYeukai Karengezeka Herald Correspondent
Chitungwiza residents intend to take Chitungwiza Municipality to court for engaging the services of debt collectors.
The local authority recently engaged the services of WellCash Debt Collectors after residents failed to heed the municipality’s repeated pleas for them to either settle their dues or come up with payment plans.
It is understood that although Chitungwiza terminated the services of another debt collector, Mangwana and Partners Legal Practitioners in 2015, the firm is allegedly still collecting debts on behalf of the local authority.
Chitungwiza Residents Trust (Chitrest) director Ms Alice Kuveya said they have engaged the services of Mr Job Sikhala, a lawyer, to represent them in court.
“We are dismayed by the gluttonous behaviour of the council that has two debt collectors in their books, despite residents protesting against the capitalistic and punitive idea.
“Even our ward councillors distanced themselves from the Mangwana deal, so it is best to finish the issue in the courts. That is why we have engaged a lawyer,” she said.
According to Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural Residents’ Association (Camera) director Mr Marvellous Khumalo, the decision made by the municipality to outsource the assistance of debt collectors was unilateral.
“During the 2017 council budget consultations, residents rejected council’s proposal to engage the services of debt collectors, so their decision was unilateral.
“Our argument is that council can collect debts through its existing credit control department than hire private companies. It means they are failing to do their duties,” he said.
Chitungwiza Municipality public relations officer Mr Lovemore Meya told The Herald that although the deal with Mangwana Legal Practitioners was terminated in 2015, the firm is clearing the outstanding cases from the period that it was engaged.
He also said that debt collectors were only roped in after residents failed to honour their obligations despite numerous calls to do so.
“Engaging debt collectors was our last resort after all other available communication channels were exhausted.
“Council is struggling with debts because of non-payment of rates by residents, and last year all of our property was seized by debtors,” he said.
Meanwhile, the local authority owes Harare City Council $10 million, which has accumulated over the past five years.
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