City cuts of defaulters

Masvingo Bureau
Masvingo City Council has embarked on a water disconnection exercise that has left many households with dry taps as the city battles to beef up its cash flow. Council has been reeling from a severe cash crunch following the scrapping of nearly US$5 million in debts in the wake of a Government directive ordering local authorities and rural council to do so.

Most houses in Mucheke, Rujeko and Runyararo suburbs now have dry taps after council cut water supplies insisting that they settle their current water bills first.

Masvingo City Council chamber secretary Mr Lovemore Tanyanyiwa on Wednesday defended the move saying the city’s finances were not stable, hence the disconnections.

“It is true that we are disconnecting water because we want to raise money. We want to improve our cash flow which, is not good at the moment. We hope if we close the taps, that will force residents to come and settle their bills,” said Mr Tanyanyiwa.