News / Local
Bulawayo City Council and ZESA talks collapse
26 Jan 2011 at 00:20hrs | Views
Talks between the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) and the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) over a $9,2 million debt the local authority owes have collapsed.
The Zesa rejected a payment offer by the municipality after an initial round of talks saying it was "too little".
Last week, Zesa disconnected power supplies to three of the council's strategic buildings, City Hall, Tower Block and Revenue Hall, in a bid to force the municipality to pay its debt or at least a substantial part of it.
BCC financial director Kempton Ndimande yesterday confirmed negotiations were in progress, but would not divulge details.
Bulawayo Deputy Mayor Amen Mpofu also declined to discuss details of the negotiations.
Sources said the local authority would this week go back to Zesa with more money in a bid to have power reconnected at its institutions.
The unavailability of electricity in the council's three strategic offices has crippled its operations. The mayor's office is using a power generator.
The Zesa rejected a payment offer by the municipality after an initial round of talks saying it was "too little".
Last week, Zesa disconnected power supplies to three of the council's strategic buildings, City Hall, Tower Block and Revenue Hall, in a bid to force the municipality to pay its debt or at least a substantial part of it.
Bulawayo Deputy Mayor Amen Mpofu also declined to discuss details of the negotiations.
Sources said the local authority would this week go back to Zesa with more money in a bid to have power reconnected at its institutions.
The unavailability of electricity in the council's three strategic offices has crippled its operations. The mayor's office is using a power generator.
Source - Byo24NEWS
