Chronicle Editor
Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
REDCLIFF Municipality has resorted to disconnecting water to force defaulters to clear their arrears as it desperately seeks to raise funds to clear a Kwekwe City Council water debt believed to be about $60million.
The cash-strapped municipality turned to Kwekwe City for water supply after the closure of Zisco, which used to supply the town with the precious liquid.
The folding of operations at the steel giant also resulted in low economic activity in the town hence the low revenue inflow into council coffers.
Kwekwe council has at times been forced to cut water to Redcliff to force it to clear its debt.
Government has since intervened and ordered Kwekwe council not to cut water supplies but has also advised Redcliff municipality to come up with a payment plan.
Redcliff Mayor, Cllr Clayton Masiyatsva said the local authority was failing to clear its debt because it was collecting very little money from residents.
“We are making payments to Kwekwe council but the debt keeps ballooning and is now more than $60 million. We are therefore disconnecting water to defaulters to force them to clear their arrears so that we boost revenue collection,” he said.
Cllr Masiyatsva said those who cannot afford to service their bills can approach the local authority and submit payment plans.
In its $1,6 billion budget for this year, Redcliff set aside $375 million for the construction of a water treatment plant as part of the local authority’s efforts to alleviate water shortages.
The council recently installed a new water pump to enable it to pump water to areas on high ground in a bid to ensure all residents have access to water.
Cllr Masiyatsva said council was inviting partners for the water treatment project as council alone cannot raise the required amount.
Meanwhile, the local authority is seeking permission from the Government to use devolution funds to buy Bell Medical Centre which will then be converted into a hospital to service the area.
Residents are travelling to Kwekwe General Hospital for services.
“We are waiting for a response from the Government so that we can pay a deposit for the purchase of Bell Medical Centre which is owned by a local businessman.
“The idea is that the institution will serve as a hospital for Redcliff which at the moment is serviced by Kwekwe General Hospital,” he said.
The local authority recently received $40 million as devolution funds from central Government and intends to fund a number of development projects including the planned hospital.
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