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Midlands Bureau
INDUSTRY and commerce should fully service their debts with urban councils as the Government directive for local authorities to write off debts incurred by residents between February 2009 and June this year will not benefit them, a Gweru City Council official has said.
Responding to allegations raised by some Gweru residents and ratepayers, the city’s Assistant Town Clerk, Mr Tapiwa Marerwa, said the city council had already cancelled residents’ bills in line with the Government directive.
He said people who were complaining that their bills had not been cancelled were from industry and commerce who were arguing from an uninformed position.
“The Government’s position issued through the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development was very clear, that we (councils) should clear all domestic consumers’ debts accrued between February 2009 and June this year. As Gweru City Council we have dealt with the domestic consumers only.
“We complied with the ministerial directive. The Minister (Dr Ignatius Chombo) did not mention industry and commerce. If there are people who are complaining, they are from industry and commerce,” said Mr Marerwa.
He said it was too early for residents to start complaining about their debts since August bills and statements are issued in September.
He said residents who receive statements with outstanding bills should not hesitate to approach his office.
“All residents who claim their bills were not cleared after receiving their August bills should come forward with their statements. However, I know that we have dealt with all domestic consumers,” said Mr Marerwa.
Gweru Residents and Rate payers Association (GRRA) chairman, Mr Cornelius Selipiwe confirmed that the city council was in the process of implementing the Government directive.
He said residents were still to receive their latest water and rates bills hence it was premature to complain.
“Gweru residents are yet to receive their latest council bills and the information that we have is that the local authority is still working on cancelling residents’ debts. We are looking forward to this and we hope to receive our updated bills this month,” he said.
When Government issued the directive in July for all councils to write off residents’ debts, some people were quick to dismiss the statement as a “campaign gimmick” by Zanu-PF.
After registering a landslide victory in the 31 July harmonised elections, President Mugabe instructed Minister Chombo to ensure that all councils complied with the Government directive.
A number of councils have since complied with the directive.
Online Reporter