adminResidents in towns and citizens in Zimbabwe pay rates and water, sewerage and refuse removal charges to their local authorities who in turn must play ball by providing the services. But while residents always complain about lack of service delivery by local authorities, in most cases the local authorities are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This is because residents who are supposed to be the local authorities’ cash cows, are faced with economic hardships and in most cases have had to forego even some of the basic necessities.
Added to that, the closure of companies in Bulawayo presents more challenges to the city fathers as this means a shrinking rates base. On the other hand, the city needs to collect every cent that it is owed as it has to pay its suppliers and workers, who are currently on strike.
So therein lies the challenge.
For the city to function and provide an efficient service, it needs money from ratepayers and residents must also play ball by servicing their bills.
While we do not condone non-payment of utility bills we, however, do not believe cutting off water supplies to residents is the ultimate solution.
We reported on Saturday that thousands of Bulawayo residents are likely to spend Christmas without water as the city council has embarked on a massive disconnection exercise, probably the most widespread in its history, in a bid to recover $61 million it is owed by ratepayers.
A health hazard is, as a result, looming due to the ongoing disconnection exercise and there are threats that council wants to enforce its by-laws that stipulate that occupants of disconnected properties should be evicted on health grounds if water supplies are not restored within five days.
Water is life and cutting off water supplies to residents is tantamount to denying people life.
Moreso, the rainy season has just begun and this is a time when everybody should be on guard against water-borne diseases.
We understand the Bulawayo City Council might not have other remedies to force residents to fork out money and settle their bills, but we do not think cutting off water supplies to residents and then declaring their houses a health hazard is the best way to solve this problem.
If the council disconnects water supplies to all residents who owe it money, and then its health inspectorate declares the properties unsuitable for human habitation because there would be no running water, is it prepared to accommodate those same residents? Where are those residents supposed to go?
Are the city fathers prepared to have a camp to accommodate disconnected residents which will have running water and ablution facilities? And who will foot the bill for this camp?
As we have said before, the council needs to be more humane and engage residents on the way forward.
Residents’ associations must also assist and engage and educate their members on the need to service their bills.
Online Reporter