Tinaani Nyabereka
Gweru-A number of households from Senga area had their properties attached by the messenger of court at the instigation of Gweru City Council in a bid to force ratepayers to settle their outstanding bills.
The development comes after Gweru City Council effected a 5percent interest on all debtors as residents were said to be snubbing their bills, with only a few honouring them up.
Speaking to this publication Gweru City Public Relations Officer Vimbai Chingwaramusee confirmed the development and said council was taking the litigation route to force debtors to settle their bills.
She added that all in all ratepayers now owed the local authority about ZW$ 1.7 billion in debts and as of December 31, 2021, council debt was at ZW$ 1.1billion.
“Yes, I can confirm that 10 residents had their property attached last week as the local authority engages in litigation to force them to settle their debts. It is an on-going process and we encourage residents to settle their bills or approach council for payment plans.
“Attaching property is the last action that council takes. No one can be caught unaware because before going to the courts, council sends letters of debt notification to the clients. Upon receiving those letters, normally clients take action and come to make payment plans. If nothing is done, then council takes the legal route. As a council we have an open-door policy hence we encourage residents to make payment plans to avoid the legal route,” said Chingwaramusee.
She added that the local authority however was owes its creditors over ZW $ 300 million.
“The local authority owes its debtors approximately over ZW$ 300 million, so if residents meet their obligations, the local authority was going to offset its creditors and would be left with more revenue to improve service delivery.
“We continue issuing final demand letters and for those who do not respond, we take the legal route culminating in the issuance of summons,” she added.
Speaking during the 693 Ordinary Council Meeting last month, Gweru council Human Resources Committee chairperson and Ward 10 councillor Charles Chikozho said as a committee they were working on mechanisms to recover all debts as a local authority.
“We are coming with mechanisms which we think will help us in our revenue flows, we are trying to recover what we are owed by residents and business community. This 5% interest is coming as a credit and debt collection mechanism which will help us to recover our money. “This penalty we are proposing is not meant to fix residents because we have genuine residents who are paying their bills but we have some who have since shunned their bills for good. Those not paying are the ones who are likely to be affected by this 5%. To those who are paying their bills, we greatly appreciate and consider their efforts towards improved service delivery,” said Chikozho.
Ward 17 councillor Farai Muza echoed that council was in need of money to run its operations.
“Let’s not take the issue of debts lightly. As council we need money to run all operations like what councillor Chikozho said, so a robust mechanism is needed to address the issue of debt at hand,” he said.
Most local authorities around the country are experiencing challenges to recoup their money from debtors with mostly government departments being big institutional debtors.
