City to combine Zesa, water bills

Trust Freddy–Herald Correspondent 

CASH-strapped Harare City Council, which is owed nearly ZiG1 billion by ratepayers, is set to combine ZESA and water bills in a bid to force debtors to settle their arrears, Mayor Jacob Mafume has said. 

The reintroduction of a combined billing system is expected to improve rate payment compliance and enhance service delivery. 

While giving the state of the city address on Wednesday, Mayor Mafume said council was still in negotiations with Zesa and Ministry of Finance to reinstate a combined billing system. 

“We are currently in negotiations with ZESA, the Ministry of Finance, and our parent ministry to reinstate the old system where rates bills and energy bills are combined.

“Technology has now developed to the extent that we can have the energy bill and the rates bill together and we share the proceeds with ZESA. 

“The problem began when the billing link was separated in 1983 or 1984, which worked in favour of ZESA. We are working diligently to do that.” 

Mayor Mafume said the city was owed over ZiG$900 million by ratepayers, with revenue collection efficiency remaining at below 50 percent.

“The city remains hamstrung in cash-flows as most consumers are not paying. We are owed in excess of ZiG 940 million. Residents, industry and commerce are the major debtors and we continue to deploy.

“Residents, industry and commerce are the major debtors and we continue to deploy measures to enforce payment. 

“Our collection efficiency remains less than 50 percent of our potential.” 

He also urged residents to pay their bills promptly, emphasising that timely payments were crucial for improving service delivery.

“We are appealing to all our debtors to honour their obligations so that we continue to pay for our water chemicals, procure plant and equipment and pay all our creditors and service providers timeously.

“In order to enforce payment, we have begun issuing final demands, summons and we will in the third quarter commence replacement of old water meters to ensure billing efficiency.

“We are engaging financing partners for this project which we are confident will help in addressing the billing challenges in our system.”