Beverly Bizeki
Masvingo City Council has moved in to clarify the billing system used in coming up with final bills to be settled by residents and other stakeholders they offer services to.
Addressing stakeholders on March 24 at the Civic Centre during an engagement meeting between council and Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Association (MURRA), council Finance Director Dannister Jori said the pricing of service provision by the local authority is guided by the laws of the land.
“Our budgets are informed by the Urban Councils Act which guides council operations and Public Finance Management Act which governs the use of funds in Zimbabwe.
“The public finance management act does not allow us to charge more than the costs incurred for providing that service. This year when we carried out the cost build up processes, the water charge was at US$ 1.30 and refuse collection was US$ 2.06 and US$ 2.36 including Value Added Tax (VAT).
“Sewer reticulation was US$ 0.98 per kilo liter of water consumption, so its amount of water used multiplied by US$ 0.98 but for households we have limited that to 5 kilo liters but in the commercial industry, we use the actual amounts used. So basically refuse collection per month is US$ 9.48 while sewer reticulation is US$ 5.57 and supplementary charge is US$ 4. For water charges, there is a fixed charge of US$ 6.50 basing on a consumption of 5 kilo liters then anything above 5 kilo liters is considered excess charge,” said Jori.
He pointed out that meter readings are usually done from the first day to the 15th of every month.
“Meter readings are counted from the 1st of the month to the 15th and these readings are captured in the system from the first day of the month.
“The billing and access to statements can be made from the 20th day of the month to the 25th, from 25 to 30, council will be distributing statements.
“If you are aware that council employees cannot get access to your households, you are allowed to submit your readings although we will be cross checking time and again,” said Jori.
He also said calculations using a consumption of 40 kilo liters the bill will be US$ 45, so from the billing dates, the prevailing official exchange rate will be used to convert it to local currency.
“What we encourage to residents is to avoid getting disconnected. It is advisable to approach any of our offices for a payment plan,” said Jori.
Some residents at the meeting pleaded with council to consider reducing rates for people with disabilities and the old aged as well as to consider reducing the reconnection fee which is pegged at US $ 10.
Council also said residents can enquire online or through telephone their water bills to avoid inconveniences such as water disconnections.
