adminThe Chitungwiza Town Council is sitting on a US$54 million debt amid fears that the town, whose service delivery has been limping along, could soon grind to a halt.
The council has been hit hard by dwindling revenue stemming from non-payment of bills by residents whose cumulative debt stands at US$27 million.
Town Clerk Mr George Makunde told The Sunday Mail that the local authority owed the City of Harare US$4 million for water.
“We have said it a million times: this town is crippled and the situation gets worse by each passing day. We owe our creditors US$54 million and yet our debtors’ book has only half that amount. That should tell you something.
“Residents are reluctant to pay their bills. They ask: ‘What are we paying for?’ There is no water, the roads are dilapidated, etcetera. Our monthly charge per household is US$19,77, but they are not paying.
“The disparity between our revenue collection capacity and our wage bill paints the whole picture of what we are trying to talk about.”
The council, which also owes employees millions of dollars in salaries, collects an average of US$900 000 per month against a wage bill of US$1,5 million. It has 1 497-strong workforce.
Harare’s water supplies to the town have declined partly due to a US$4 million debt, and many residents access water twice a week.
An elderly female resident who preferred anonymity questioned the wisdom of paying rates when council’s service delivery was “as good as dead”.
“We only get tap water once a week here in St Mary’s. Refuse is not collected most of the time … look at the roads — can we say we are living in an urban area?” she queried.
Online Reporter