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Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
Beitbridge Municipality has started engaging residents and businesses with the view of recovering a debt of ZiG54 million which has adversely affected the local authority’s capacity to implement major capital projects.
Council finance director Mr Anymore Mbedzi told stakeholders on Monday that the debt included unpaid rates, services and water bills.
He was speaking at a 2024 mid-term budget review meeting and said council is collecting less than its normal targets. Residents and businesses’ failure to payment bills is affecting service delivery in the town.
“We are worried about the level at which people are defaulting payments and hence our debtors have been increasing with each passing year. It is sad to note that we are owed a total ofZiG54 332 107,97 by the ratepayers, residents, institutions and businesses,” he said.
“We need to work together as the local authority and the residents in resolving this issue. We cannot run a viable council when people are not paying for services.
“Commercial debtors owe use a total of ZiG15,8 million, industry ZiG7,2 million, residential high density, ZiG15,7 million, medium density residential ZiG5,1 million, low density residential ZiG5 million, local authorities ZiG210 061,61 and Government Departments ZiG5 million,” said Mr Mbedzi.
He said the large chunk of the debt was in water bills which amounted to over ZiG9 million against a debt of ZiG3 million which the local authority owes to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA).
As a result, ZINWA has had to cut water supplies to the town twice in the last two months to force council to service its debt.
The non-payment of water bills to ZINWA has resulted in the local authority disconnecting water supplies to the biggest debtors.
“As a local authority, our creditor’s bill stands at around ZiG18 million and we hope to meet most of our commitments with more funds being available,” said Mr Mbedzi.
Town clerk, Mr Loud Ramakgapola said they had lined up several capital projects in the town but the unavailability of funds seriously affected the plans.
“It is important for the people to pay their bills so that we can operate efficiently and smoothly as a local authority,” he said.
The council had also lined up several projects some of which will be funded through devolution funds which include the completion of Makhado Primary School in the Khwalu 2 suburb.
Other projects include the construction of a new clinic near White Lodge along Bulawayo Road, servicing 235 low-density stands near the Government Staff Village, upgrading the sewer and water reticulation systems, improving public lighting in new suburbs, services and maintaining roads.
Mr Ramakgapola said the council is working on constructing a standard engineered landfill on the western side of the town.
“We are also planning to improve the state of affairs at the Makakavhule Cemetery and work on service roads in new suburbs and maintain those in old suburbs,” he said.
The town clerk said they were also looking at other community development projects that would change the ambience of the town.
Mayor Councillor Peter Pirato Mafuta said.
Online Reporter