 |
| Masvingo Mayor Collen Maboke |
…disconnects
10 institutions
10 institutions
…army,
police challenge bills
police challenge bills
Mukai
Musimwa
Musimwa
The Masvingo City Council has taken an offensive
against government institutions who owe the local authority millions in unpaid
bills and have disconnected water at 10 government institutions among them the
provincial education offices, the ministry of lands offices, ministry of labour
offices, provincial registrar offices among others while the security sector is
disputing their current bills.
against government institutions who owe the local authority millions in unpaid
bills and have disconnected water at 10 government institutions among them the
provincial education offices, the ministry of lands offices, ministry of labour
offices, provincial registrar offices among others while the security sector is
disputing their current bills.
The central government and parastatals owe the city
council in excess of $27 million in unpaid debts as at October 2019.
council in excess of $27 million in unpaid debts as at October 2019.
Council has made valiant efforts to try and recover
the bills but to no avail prompting the city fathers to disconnect the
defaulting institutions.
the bills but to no avail prompting the city fathers to disconnect the
defaulting institutions.
Acting Town Clerk Edward Mukaratirwa told TellZim News
that they had tried to get the money but the institutions were not forthcoming
hence the move to disconnect them.
that they had tried to get the money but the institutions were not forthcoming
hence the move to disconnect them.
“We have opened our doors to payment plans but most of
these institutions have not been forthcoming. The council is struggling to
provide services because it has no money and the people who are supposed to be
paying are reluctant.
these institutions have not been forthcoming. The council is struggling to
provide services because it has no money and the people who are supposed to be
paying are reluctant.
“We have disconnected 10 government institutions and
we are calling on them to come and make payment plans which they will have to
honour. We are not a shrewd council but sometimes we are left with no choice.
we are calling on them to come and make payment plans which they will have to
honour. We are not a shrewd council but sometimes we are left with no choice.
“We know water is a right but we need money in order
to guarantee that right to our people,” said Mukaratirwa.
to guarantee that right to our people,” said Mukaratirwa.
The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Zimbabwe Republic
Police (ZRP) and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) who
constitute nearly 50 percent of the debtors’ ledger are said to be contesting
their bills saying they are way too high.
Police (ZRP) and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) who
constitute nearly 50 percent of the debtors’ ledger are said to be contesting
their bills saying they are way too high.
Mukaratirwa said the council could not disconnect the
security forces because they are disputing their bills and negotiations are
taking place.
security forces because they are disputing their bills and negotiations are
taking place.
“The security forces are the biggest debtors but right
now they are saying the bills we have given them are too high and are
challenging them.
now they are saying the bills we have given them are too high and are
challenging them.
“We are discussing with them and their bills at the
moment are contested,” said Mukaratirwa.
moment are contested,” said Mukaratirwa.
The central government has, early this year, only paid
$800 000 towards clearing their debt which is in excess of $20 million.
$800 000 towards clearing their debt which is in excess of $20 million.
