Council disconnects water on defaulters

Midlands Correspondent
CASH-strapped Gweru City Council has embarked on a massive water disconnection exercise on defaulting residential properties amid reports that the residents’ rates and water bills were ballooning again only four months after the Government scrapped them off.In July, the Government directed local authorities to write-off debts accrued by residents between February 2009 and June 2013.
In an interview yesterday, the City Council Finance Director, Mr Edgar Mwedzi, said more residents continued to default affecting the council’s revenue base, a move that was crippling service delivery.

He said the number of residents who were servicing their water and rates accounts was pathetic.
Mr Mwedzi said the council was forced to descend heavily on defaulters by disconnecting water on their properties. “There is continued laxity from our residents when it comes to servicing their water and rates bills.

The debt which was written off under the Government directive is beginning to balloon again as most residents were not forthcoming,” said Mr Mwedzi.

In a statement, Gweru city town clerk, Mr Daniel Matawu said the city council was struggling to meet its obligations owing to some cash flow challenges.

He said apart from the on-going water disconnection exercise, the council was considering handing over defaulters to debt collectors.
“Considering the past experiences, council has since adopted a zero tolerance to debt. Residents are once again further reminded to settle their dues, failure of which council will be left with no option but to follow procedure of debt recovery such as water disconnections or handing them over to our legal practitioners without further notice,” said Mr Matawu.

Gweru Residents and Rate payers Association (GRRA) chairperson, Mr Cornelius Selipiwe yesterday urged fellow residents to service their council accounts.

He said residents should pay something towards their water bills to avoid being handed over to council lawyers.
He expressed gratitude to the Government for instructing councils to write off residents’ bills.