Chronicle Editor
Sukoluhle Ndlovu, Midlands Correspondent
KWEKWE City Council is owed in excess of $521 million by ratepayers, a development which has affected the local authority’s service delivery mandate.
Kwekwe Mayor Councillor Angeline Kasipo told Sunday News that the municipality has since taken steps like disconnecting water to defaulters in a bid to recover the debt.
“As of 31 March, this year, we were owed slightly over $521 million by residents, businesses and Government departments.
“As a council we have taken several steps to recover the debt.
“These steps include sending messages, calling and holding meetings with our stakeholders encouraging them to come in and make payment plans.
“As a last resort, we have started disconnecting water for those who owe the council huge debts.
“We have no choice as the council because we need the money in order to operate,” she said.
Meanwhile, Clr Kasipo said the municipality has used part of its Devolution funds from Government to construct work spaces for small and medium enterprises to accommodate informal traders who were displaced following the demolition of vending stalls in the city.
“We have started constructing small shops in town to accommodate the small to medium enterprises sector.
As Kwekwe council we also started sprucing up our market places around town as we intend to bring sanity into the informal sectors,” she said.
Most informal traders across the country were left with no work spaces as local authorities in most municipalities demolished vending stalls in a bid to bring order in towns.
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