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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Bulawayo Bureau
Bulawayo City Council has said all pensioned property owners upon application by the ratepayer are eligible for 50 percent rebate on bills regardless of where they were employed.
The clarification follows an enquiry by Chronicle after claims that a 98-year-old pensioner and former council worker, Mr Neban Nyalenda from Thokozani Flats in Mzilikazi suburb, who worked for the council for almost half a century, had his water disconnected in April over an outstanding water bill.
The bedridden Mr Nyalenda, of Zambian origin, lives with his medically unwell son.
In written responses, Bulawayo City Council spokesperson, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu, said the city had a rates rebate for all pensioned property owners regardless of where they were employed.
She said the rebate was 50 percent of the property tax or rates granted upon application from the consumer.
“Consumers are also free to approach any council revenue office to negotiate payment arrangement plans in order to avoid debt collection actions,” said Mrs Mpofu.
“The City of Bulawayo also conducts assessments on reported community members who are struggling with payments. The social welfare offices make a visit and produce a report that will enable the city to make a decision on the basis of the assessment made,” she said.
“This arrangement is to ensure their situation is not worsened and at best social support measures are instituted with partners to alleviate the situation. As indicated above, the disconnection teams do not disconnect where there is a sick or bedridden person,” said Mrs Mpofu.
She said council also offered 3 000 litres of free water as a social safety net to cushion such families on water consumption needs and future considerations are made on merit.
However, news that council has disconnected water supplies at Mr Nyalenda’s home has been received with backlash from residents.
Bulawayo United Residents Association (Bura) chairperson, Mr Winos Dube, described the move as heartless and mean by a local authority that should serve residents with integrity.
He said for a man who worked nearly half his life for council to be treated in such an ‘inhuman manner’ by his former employers was heartbreaking.
“Council had at one time promised a waiver for elderly persons on certain obligations. Here we are talking of a 98-year-old man, who also spent nearly half his age providing his labour to council and this is how they treat him?” said Mr Dube.
“They can’t show a human face to this? If you look at it, what will council lose if this man was to be exempted from paying anything at all? This is heartless and mean,” said an emotionally charged Dube.
Mr Nyalenda worked for BCC as a bioscope operator from 1952 until his retirement in 1994, providing his labour for 42 years. Narrating his ordeal while on his bed, he said he now relies on borehole water from neighbours who have come to his rescue.
“They came here early this year and knocked on the door but because I am bedridden, I could not open the door. The next thing I realised there was no water coming out of my tap. The situation has been unbearable for me since then,” said Nyalenda.
He said he has seven children and all but one were not staying with him while the only girl child was in Zambia. When asked why his children were not taking care of him, the old man shook his head before responding.
“The one I am living with is not well too, just like me, while the other six constantly say they have other financial contributions in their families to take care of. Once in a while, I can receive a bag of mealie-meal, especially from the one staying in Gwanda, but generally, life is hell for me,” said Mr Nyalenda.
He used to stay in Mpopoma before moving to the Mzilikazi residence in 1980 where he never reneged on his obligations regarding payment of dues to council.
A neighbour ,who has been assisting, Ms Samu Khumalo, said the situation had been bad but was made worse after council workers disconnected water supplies.
“As you can see, he is bedridden and needs to be assisted to go to the toilet and without water the situation is unbearable. Sometimes he soils himself, which means blankets have to be washed,” she said.
Ward 8 Councillor Edwin Ndlovu, who represents Thokozani Flats resident, and is also the city’s deputy mayor, said he had not heard of Mr Nyalenda’s predicament before advising that his family to visit social welfare offices at Mzilikazi housing office.
Online Reporter