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Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
CHIPINGE Town Council is being owed $343 million by the business community and residents who are failing to service their debts.
The council is just collecting 45 percent of the expected revenue, leaving it struggling to provide basic services to ratepayers as well as paying employees’ salaries.
According to documents gleaned by this publication, as of April 30, ratepayers and businesses owed the local authority $343 613 511,51.
The water bill alone was $119 774 715.
In an interview, acting town secretary, Mr James Mutemera, said the council is now being forced to divert revenue collected from other services to finance the pumping of water since it is a basic need.
“The council is struggling to provide water because of poor revenue collection. We are billing $6 million every month and the council is collecting only $3,1 million which translates to 45 percent of our revenue collection percentage.
“We are purchasing water chemicals at a cost of $2,5 million every month and an additional $1,5 million goes towards the electricity bill,’’ he said.
Mr Mutemera said council is considering engaging debt collectors to recover the owed money.
“The council cannot work without money. For the council to provide good services, residents should develop a culture of paying rates.
“We are currently engaging residents through various platforms so that they settle their water bills. The cost of chemicals is increasing on a daily basis and this leaves us in a tight corner,” he said.
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