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LOCAL authorities have resumed water disconnections in a bid to recover monies owed by defaulting ratepayers.
Local authorities had suspended the disconnections after a High Court judge ruled that it was unlawful to cut off supplies without a court order.Harare City Council, which was the subject of the order which set precedence for other local authorities, appealed against the judgment at the Supreme Court.
This has automatically set aside the ruling giving councils an opportunity to disconnect water.
The court judgment has put local authorities in a fix with councils believing it has galvanised ratepayers to ignore their obligations.
According to the Bulawayo City Council, arrears have risen to $90million in a space of a year. In 2013 when government ordered councils to write off arrears, council had been owed about $50million which accrued over a four year period.
It is obvious that more and more residents are no longer paying for services. With the economic hardships biting the country, one might say that people are failing to pay because they have no money.
Or it could be that after the writing off of debts, residents are expecting a repeat performance and those who did not benefit the last time because they were up to date with payments, are lining themselves to gain in future.
Whatever the reason, what is clear is that local authorities need money in order for them to provide potable water.
If the situation continues whereby residents expect free water, the country is doomed for disaster. There will come a time when local authorities fail to buy water treatment chemicals or raw water itself.
While disconnecting water seems to be harsh, it appears as the most effective way for councils to recover their money. In most instances, residents who have their water supplies disconnected run around and look for the money to restore supplies.
As Bulawayo Mayor Martin Moyo pointed out, taking the court route will be expensive for all parties involved. The council has to hire lawyers’ while the already burdened rate-payers will have to meet the court costs.
Councils need to come up with new innovative ways to make sure residents pay for services.
Although there have been reservations about pre-paid water meters, these appear to be the solution for now.
Some civic rights activists argue that placing pre-paid water meters would violate the right to clean water.
But what can local authorities do when it is clear that there are some residents who don’t want to pay and want to be subsidised by responsible ratepayers who meet their obligations without fail.
Some might say let the court processes deal with defaulters but the demonstration in Gweru by some residents last week after council engaged debt collectors to deal with defaulters shows that it’s not about court processes but just unwillingness to pay.
If councils don’t act decisively, there will come a time when even those who have been paying for services religiously also stop because defaulters are being handled with kid gloves.
Online Reporter