Beverly Bizeki
Masvingo City Council has resolved to increase measures to enforce bill payment following a huge closing balance for debtors in August 2022.
Minutes from the Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting held on September 23, revealed that the total debt owed to council as at August 31 2022 was ZW$ 1 306 857 851.43.
Council has resolved to invoke public health by-baws in the event of non-payment or failure to stick to payment plans.
“It was reported that at some educational institutions, water had been disconnected and enforcement of public health by laws would be invoked in the event of non-payment or failure to adhere to payment plans.
“The Committee further noted the need to increase the numbers of assistant debt collectors to ensure timeous meter reading and enforcement of water disconnections,” read the minutes.
In July, council disconnected 1129 properties in the city from water supply over outstanding debts which the property owners are seemingly reluctant to honour.
Last year council management at one point tasked Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa and Mayor Collen Maboke to approach the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira to help them recoup outstanding debts from government institutions and departments.
Failure to pay bills has been cited as one major causes behind poor service delivery as the local authority struggles to fund their projects.
Residents and institutions continue to owe them huge sums of money that would be easily eroded by inflation and become valueless due to the instability local currency has been subjected to.
