Patrick Chitumba [email protected]
KWEKWE City Council is owed more than US$50 million by residents, businesses, Government departments and other institutions, raising concerns over the local authority’s ability to sustain service delivery amid mounting financial pressures.
The debt includes US$32 million owed by residents and ratepayers, US$11 million by commerce and industry, US$6 million by neighbouring Redcliff Municipality and US$3,4 million by Government departments and institutions.
The outstanding amounts are straining council’s finances as it struggles to meet operational costs, pay suppliers and fund essential services, including water provision.
Council finance director Mrs Rejoice Maweni-Dandira disclosed the figures during the local authority’s 2027 budget consultations with ward development committees and ratepayers’ associations at the Civic Centre.
She said the figures, which were as at 30 September, showed that residents and ratepayers across the city’s wards accounted for the largest share of the debt, while Government departments and institutions, including police camps, prisons, Government offices, the District Development Coordinator’s office, courts, ministries and Kwekwe General Hospital, collectively owed US$3,4 million.
Mrs Maweni-Dandira said council had approached the Ministry of Finance over the outstanding Government debt, which was affecting its ability to meet its obligations.
“We have approached the Ministry of Finance saying we are now crippled as a local authority, with US$3,4 million sitting in Government. As a local authority, we are expected to collect revenue and ensure service delivery,” she said.
Mrs Maweni-Dandira said council continued to incur expenses while struggling to recover payments for services already provided, placing further pressure on its finances.
She singled out Redcliff Municipality, which receives water from Kwekwe but has accumulated US$6 million in unpaid bills.
“We are saying we are giving Redcliff Municipality water and they don’t pay for the service. We continue buying water treatment chemicals and face the ZESA debt when Redcliff is not paying us,” said Mrs Maweni-Dandira.
She said failure by some customers and institutions to settle their bills was making it difficult for council to pay suppliers and other service providers.
Mrs Maweni-Dandira also questioned how the local authority could meet the Government’s Call to Action initiative, which seeks to improve service delivery and strengthen revenue collection, while substantial amounts remained outstanding.
“In the end, council is blamed for poor service delivery. How then do we perform when US$32 million is sitting in the wards?” she said.
The disclosure comes as the local authority begins consultations on its 2027 budget, with residents, businesses and other stakeholders expected to contribute to spending priorities and proposals for raising revenue.
Kwekwe mayor Councillor Albert Zinhanga urged residents to participate in the consultations, saying their contributions would help council develop a budget that responds to community needs.
He said the local authority will visit all wards over the next two weeks, with councillors and representatives from various departments attending meetings to hear residents’ concerns and answer questions.
“We want the people to define the budget they want,” he said.
Clr Zinhanga said officials from departments such as finance, works and health will explain council programmes and respond to issues raised during the meetings.
“At the end of the consultative meetings, we will be having a people-driven budget,” he said.
Clr Zinhanga said the consultations will give residents, ward development committees and ratepayers’ associations an opportunity to influence resource allocation, identify pressing service delivery challenges and contribute to discussions on revenue collection.
He called for cooperation among stakeholders, saying collective efforts were essential for the city to achieve its development objectives.
