Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Business Hub
The City of Bulawayo has issued more than 16 000 debt demand notices across its wards in a renewed drive to recover outstanding rates and service charges, with the local authority targeting to collect over US$14,1 million, a council debt collection report shows.
The notices, issued in the form of final demands, 24-hour notices, disconnection warnings and phone call reminders, were distributed across both high- and low-density suburbs.
“Council billed US$10.3 million on 183 372 accounts in November 2025. The opening debt as at 31 October 2025 was US$$133 million.
“Collection efforts are targeted to collect the current month billing plus a portion of the arrears using available resources. US$1,930,057 was collected in the month of November 2025 through various efforts,” reads the debt collection report.
According to the report, Ward 8 (Mzilikazi) recorded the highest number of notices, with 2 995 disconnection notices issued, targeting the recovery of approximately US$1,53 million.
In Ward 6 (Cowdray Park), council issued 931 disconnection notices, targeting US$4,32 million, making it the ward with the single largest amount council hopes to recover.
Cowdray Park also recorded an additional 62 phone call notices targeting about US$85 377, pushing the ward’s total targeted amount to well over US$4,4 million.
Ward 5 had 951 email and phone call notices issued, with council aiming to collect around US$3,92 million.
In Ward 3 (Mahatshula), council issued 1 010 24-hour notices targeting US$174 030, while a further 920 disconnection notices were served, targeting US$1,01 million.
Other wards with significant numbers of notices include Ward 20 (Nkulumane) – 1 295 disconnection notices targeting US$754 733 and 76 phone call notices targeting US$4 368
Ward 25 (Nketa) had 1 156 disconnection notices targeting US$656 478, plus 181 phone call notices targeting US$246 751 while ward 11 (Emakhandeni) – 907 24-hour notices targeting US$594 061, and 77 phone call notices targeting US$35 337
The report notes that Ward 13 (Tshabalala) had789 final demand notices targeting US$481 081, and 867 disconnection notices targeting US$807 592
In the central business district, Ward 1 (City Centre) recorded 66 final demand notices, with council targeting to recover US$195 262.
Ward 9 (Mpopoma) received 60 disconnection notices targeting US$305 566, and Ward 10 (Emganwini), which received a combined 149 notices through phone calls and 24-hour notices targeting over US$170 000.
In total, the local authority issued 16 108 notices citywide, with a combined targeted collection amount of US$14 141 722.
Council officials say the aggressive debt recovery campaign is necessary to improve revenue inflows and ensure continuity of essential services such as water provision, refuse collection and road maintenance.
