adminLeonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
VICTORIA Falls Municipality has taken legal action against defaulting ratepayers following a recent High Court ruling that councils cannot disconnect water supplies to residents without a court order.
Scores of residents, a church and a private organisation, with arrears ranging between $200 and $454 each have been served with summons to appear in court over failure to settle their bills.
The total amount due to council could not be readily established, but indications are that the municipality has embarked on a door-to-door campaign to get payments.
Through its lawyers Dube and Company, the council says repeated appeals to residents to clear their arrears have been ignored hence its decision to take legal action.
The Victoria Falls local authority has since taken 33 ratepayers to court in a bid to recover its money.
Those that are being sued include the Salvation Army Church in Chinotimba, which owes the local authourity $403 and an organisation called Hlomuka that has to settle a $443,73 debt.
Individuals that have been issued with summons include Emely Mwale, Gilbert Neshamba, Chulumba Matafal, Tedius Msindo Magodi, Elias Kanyikila and David Chimwadzimba.
“Despite numerous attempts of demand, you refused or failed to make payment for rates and water.
“You have seven days to file a notice of intention to defend if you have a counter claim.
“You will pay interest from the day of issue of summons at banking lending rates plus cost of suit,” reads part of the summons.
The cases are yet to be set down for hearing.
Two weeks ago, justice Chinembiri Bhunu said the tendency by councils to disconnect water supplies without judicial oversight was in violation of the constitution.
There have been concerns by residents that since the adoption of multi-currencies in 2009, local authorities’ billing systems have not been regularised resulting in estimates being used to bill consumers.
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