Zisco water reconnected

Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
THE Kwekwe City Council has reconnected water to Redcliff Town after the two local authorities agreed on a payment plan that will see the latter inheriting a $9 million debt which was left by the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company. Redcliff Municipality has since paid an undisclosed amount to Kwekwe City Council so that they would be reconnected following reports of a looming health hazard in Torwood. Ziscosteel owe the Kwekwe City Council about $16,5 million in unpaid water bills. Redcliff Municipality has been reluctant to pay the debt arguing that Kwekwe City Council had an agreement with Ziscosteel and not the local authority.

The water supplies to Redcliff were last month disconnected to force the town council to pay off its debt, resulting in the area going for two weeks without water. Redcliff Town Mayor Councillor Fred Kapuya said the water supplies were reconnected after they paid part of the money owed to Kwekwe City Council.

“Kwekwe City Council reconnected water supplies in the town last Thursday after we have paid part of the money to settle our $9 million debt and we are not in a position to disclose the amount we paid. However, we have been disconnecting water for the residents so that they clear their arrears, so we can get enough money to settle the debt,” he said.

Clr Kapuya said 95 percent of the residents were sitting on between 10 and 15 months in arrears.