Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
KWEKWE residents owing more than US$2 400 in unpaid bills risk losing valuable property through legal action as council intensifies efforts to recover debts that threaten its capacity to provide essential services.
The local authority has begun pursuing legal action against defaulting residents, with the Deputy Sheriff expected to attach and auction properties to recover outstanding amounts, council finance director Mrs Rejoice Maweni-Dandira has said.
The crackdown comes as two of Kwekwe’s affluent wards, which cover some of the city’s low and medium density suburbs, have accumulated nearly US$10 million in unpaid bills, highlighting the scale of the revenue collection challenge facing the local authority.
Figures presented by Mrs Maweni-Dandira during the City of Kwekwe’s 2027 budget consultative meeting with ward development committees and rate-payers’ associations at the Civic Centre show that Ward 10 owes US$5,53 million, the highest debt among the wards, while Ward 14 owes US$4,45 million.
The combined debt of US$9,98 million raises concern over the payment of municipal bills in areas where residents are generally considered to have greater financial means, yet the council depends on ratepayers’ contributions to fund essential services.
Ward 10 covers Fitchlea, Hazeldene, Gaika, Westend, Glenwood, Hillandale and Chicago, while Ward 14 encompasses Msasa, Newtown, Southwood, Golden Acres, Roasting Plant and Golf Course.
The outstanding amounts come at a time when the council is grappling with a wider debt burden of US$32 million owed by residents, which it says is undermining its ability to improve service delivery.
“We’re now taking residents to court over their debts, which may result in attachments. If you owe council above US$2 400, we commence court action to recover the debt,” said Mrs Maweni-Dandira.
“The Deputy Sheriff may attach property for defaulting residents and dispose of it through auctions. We’re going to see more of this in an endeavour to improve revenue collection.”
She said some residents had not made any payments towards their council bills since 2021, while others had reconnected water supplies after they had been disconnected over non-payment.
Mrs Maweni-Dandira warned that the local authority would continue disconnecting services to defaulting residents but urged those struggling to settle their bills to engage council and negotiate payment plans.
“We’ve sent notices and final demands and legal enforcement as we’ve taken the legal route to recover what council is owed by residents,” she said.
The official said the council was working towards meeting minimum service delivery standards, which require local authorities to collect at least 80 percent of the amounts owed to them.
Improved revenue collection, she said, was critical to ensuring that the local authority could meet its obligations in providing water, maintaining sewer infrastructure, collecting refuse and rehabilitating roads.
“Residents may think that we don’t want to improve service delivery when, in fact, we’re owed US$32 million,” said Mrs Maweni-Dandira.
She said some accounts had accumulated debts of up to US$4 500, further highlighting the challenge posed by prolonged non-payment. The finance director said the council was also engaging ward councillors to encourage residents to clear their arrears and improve compliance with payment obligations.
She said reducing outstanding debts was a priority as the local authority sought to strengthen its revenue base and finance development programmes. The consultations on the 2027 budget are expected to give residents and ratepayers an opportunity to contribute to discussions on council revenue, expenditure and service delivery priorities.
