By Virginia Njovo
Some 268 families from Mwenezi living in Orewood suburb have been said to be living without basic water or sewer services, a situation that has forced them to use illegal septic tanks.
The development was revealed in the 2024 Auditor General’s report, seen by TellZim News, in which it was noted that Mwenezi Rural District Council had sold unserviced stands to the residents.
“On sewer and reticulation, the council allocated two hundred and sixty eight unserviced stands to beneficiaries in Orewood High density suburb. As a result, residents were using septic tanks and blair latrines which was against local government regulations which prohibit the use of septic tanks in such areas. In addition, the area was not connected to water reticulation system and residents had no access to safe water,” reads a part of the document.
The office of the Auditor General recommended that council should service the stands and the management responded saying that funds had been allocated towards servicing.
“There is a risk that residents may be exposed to disease outbreaks. Council should service the stands. The management’s response was that council has allocated funds for servicing the stands. Mwenezi RDC will collaborate with ZINWA to accelerate the piped water supply to Orewood high density suburbs,” reads a part of the report.
Mwenezi RDC was also fingered for operating without critical policies which is contrary to the Public Finance Management Act.
“Council was operating without policies such as asset management policy, debt management policy. This was contrary to the Public Finance Management Act (Chapter 22:19) section 50, which requires every public entity to adhere to and implement the principles of sound corporate governance. The risk is lack of guidance and inconsistency in the council’s operations,” reads a part of the letter.
The management said policy drafts were in place for most of the policies including asset management policy.
“It is agreed that Mwenezi RDC has no such policies in place. However, management is currently working on a number of policies including the one observed most of which are at draft stage. Management is committed to having an asset management policy, finance policy, ICT policy, risk management policy, recruitment of students on attachment policy and debt management policy.”
The local authority was said to be in arrears on the payment of salaries of which it noted that council management will in the future, try to meet all salary obligations if funds permit.
“The council was not generating enough cash flows to cover all its financial obligations. As a result, the council was three months in arrears on the payment of salaries and related deductions such as NSSA, pension, life assurance and medical aid. Out of total payables of ZWL$8.9 million, ZWL$8.2 million related to salaries. The risk is that service delivery may be compromised due to low staff morale,” reads the report.
The province’s councils also shared critical failures that appear epidemic in nature including violation of international accounting standards by using incorrect exchange rates, potentially distorting financial statements by billions.
