adminRichard Muponde, Gwanda Correspondent
THE Gwanda Municipality has unleashed debt collectors on residents in a bid to recover more than $4 million in unpaid bills.
The move has riled residents who accuse the municipality of using estimated figures to bill them. The Mayor, Councillor Knowledge Ndlovu, confirmed the development, adding that last weekend he had to organise a meeting in his ward to calm angry residents who are accusing the local authority of being insensitive.
At the meeting, residents accused the municipality of using estimated figures to bill them. One of the affected residents, Ms Rebecca Sibanda who is owing council $10 000 said her house has neither a water meter nor a running tap but she was surprised to receive the bill.
“What I don’t know is whether council has our water meter and tap at their offices because how can one explain this. We have never used water from council at the house because we have no meter and a tap but received a statement with a meter reading. Where is that meter? Now they have referred my name to a debt collector, seriously?” asked Ms Sibanda.
Councillor Patriot Ndlovu said in 2014 he owed the municipality $300 and he paid $200 before going to Beitbridge the same year but now his debt was $9 000.
“When I left water had been disconnected and until now it’s not there. However, what boggles the mind is how has the bill ballooned to $9 000 when I was not using water. There is something wrong with the council’s billing system and that should be rectified because we might lose our property for nothing,” said Mr Ndlovu.
Mr John Tshaya accused council officials of not being honest.
“These people are not honest. I have never seen them recording my meter reading but you find that when the statement comes it indicates actual readings of the water meter and water consumed,” said Mr Tshaya.
Clr Ndlovu said it was illegal for council to charge residents for water that had not been used.
“There is no way council should bill water when your property is not registered in their database. How can you bill someone who does not have a meter and tap? There will be a team going around looking at meters to see if they are working. It’s not a crime that your meter is not working. We want to solve the issue of meters and water estimates once and for all,” said Clr Ndlovu.
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