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Prosper Ndlovu Senior Reporter
THE political leadership and civic society in Bulawayo have urged residents to pay their council bills on time to ensure provision of efficient service delivery and stop accumulation of new debts.
The call comes at a time when there is concern that some residents were now reluctant to pay their bills following the recent Government directive for local authorities to write-off bills accrued between February 2009 and 30 June this year.
Councils across the country have already complied with the directive with the Bulawayo City Council last week reversing bills amounting to $46 million.
In separate interviews yesterday, the city’s senior politicians and residents’ association leaders said residents should take the reversal of bills as an opportunity to recommit themselves to fully support council through timeous payment.
“Everyone should applaud the Government and respect the lifting of the burden of debts. It is now the opportunity for residents to pay their bills on time to facilitate provision of good service,” said Senator Angeline Masuku who is also a Zanu-PF Politburo member.
“Residents should understand that failure to pay their bills accordingly might cripple service delivery. A lot of work must be done by council and residents must play their role by paying.
“The development of the city is hinged on the support of its residents. We also urge council to set up income generating projects to augment its finances rather than relying on bills only.”
Bulawayo Central member of the National Assembly Ms Dorcas Sibanda of MDC-T said council should engage residents by holding public meetings to discuss payment issues.
“Council should now go back to the people and engage them on payment issues. I suggest that they hold public consultative meetings with residents where they would speak about this issue,” she said.
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (Bupra) programmes and advocacy manager Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu said writing off the debts should be regarded as a chance to correct past mistakes and urged residents not to relax.
“We do not expect a scenario where residents would sit back and accrue more debts again. This is the chance for them to start afresh and ensure that they are up to date in terms of payment,” said Mr Ndlovu.
“We are opposed to non-payment of bills. Residents should pay because the bulk of council budget comes from them. It is the residents who would suffer if they do not pay.”
Mr Ndlovu also challenged council to tighten its billing system and ensure that charges were commensurate with consumption.
“We were not happy with the manner in which the scrapped off bills were accrued. This time around council must be transparent and efficient and stop using estimated readings and leakages.
“The Government should also render financial assistance to council to improve provision of service rather than making policy directives only,” he said.
Bulawayo United Residents Association (Bura) organising secretary Mr Methuseli Mpofu concurred saying residents have the obligation to pay bills.
“Initially people thought this was a political gimmick but we are now seeing that it is real. Now residents do not have any excuse of not paying their bills.
“They must honour their bills from July onwards. Even when they have not received their bill statements they must know that every month they should pay something to council. Challenges are there but this is their obligation and they should pay. Kababhadale,” said Mr Mpofu.
The city council has said it has already billed ratepayers the July to September charges and that it would start issuing out bills reflecting the cancellation of bills as from Monday next week.
Residents who had their water supplies disconnected in the past are required to pay $30,58 reconnection fee, which covers the cost of restoring the services.
For convenience purposes council has encouraged residents to pay using EcoCash Biller Code 14969.
The Government directive was meant to bring relief to millions of Zimbabweans who have been economically disempowered in the last few years due to the effect of illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the Western countries.
Online Reporter