5 000 water bill defaulters cut off

19 Oct, 2014 - 06:10 0 Views
5 000 water bill defaulters cut off

The Sunday Mail

Harare City Council has over the last month disconnected nearly 5 000 households and businesses from the water grid to compel them to settle outstanding bills.

However, this move contravenes a High Court ruling that outlawed cutting water supplies without court approval.

The 5 000 defaulters, Government departments and satellite towns owe the municipality US$291 million cumulatively.

Responding to written inquiries from The Sunday Mail, council’s corporate communications department said the citywide blitz targeted suburbs, the central business district and industry.

“Water disconnections are an ongoing process to force defaulting customers to pay their bills. They happen as and when we want defaulting customers to pay their bills,” Town House said.

“So far, disconnections have taken place in the CBD (715), Workington (149), Mt Pleasant (1 155), and Avondale (959), Hillside (151), Arundel (747), Emerald Hill (127), Greencroft (106), Strathaven (214), Milton Park (299) and Cranborne (317).

“A total of 4 939 (residents and businesses) have been disconnected.”

Council resolved to disconnect defaulters, arguing that its coffers and, subsequently, service delivery were suffering due to non-payment of water bills.

Some debts stretch back to July 2013 when Government wrote off bills that had accumulated since 2009. In April 2014, Harare lawyer Mr Farai Mushoriwa took legal action after council disconnected supplies to his flat over a supposed US$1 600 debt.

High Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu ruled that such disconnections — previously provided for by Section 8 of the Water By-law (Statutory Instrument 164 of 1913) — were unconstitutional.

Harare Residents’ Trust director Mr Precious Shumba said: “Water disconnections without court orders are null and void. Section 77 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe clearly states that the right to water cannot be compromised.

“The HRT urges the City of Harare to take Government to court to recover the millions they are owed, then pursue businesses before coming to poor individuals who are also struggling to put food on their tables.”

Zimbabwe Institute of Regional and Urban Planning president Mr Percy Toriro said: “This is a catch-22 situation. Water is a right entitled to everyone. However, it is also a service that needs to be paid for.

“Therefore, people should play their role and pay bills. At the same time, council should deliver efficient services to ratepayers.”

. . . ministers, MPs get 30 percent discount

Sunday Mail Reporter

Cabinet ministers, senior Government officials and legislators will not have water supplies cut, but get a 30 percent discount if they settle their outstanding bills in full.

Harare City Council’s corporate communications department said the municipality would accord “high profile” debtors preferential treatment due to the huge sums involved.

The amounts could not be immediately ascertained.

“Indeed, there are some high profile debtors in our books. Council has tasked the Mayor (Mr Bernard Manyenyeni) and Town Clerk (Dr Tendai Mahachi) to talk to the high-profile debtors,” the communications department said.

“They are negotiating set-offs and payment plans. Council is also offering a 30 percent discount to the high-profile debtors who settle their debts in full.”

However, Harare Residents’ Trust (HRT) director Mr Precious Shumba expressed dismay over the idea.

“Let them show us the list of high-profile debtors and the council resolution to that effect.

“These decisions cannot be made by council officials alone. It is a policy issue,” he said.

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