Council in massive water disconnections

THE cash-strapped Gwanda Town Council has embarked on a massive water disconnection exercise on defaulters as it tries to recover thousands of dollars owed to it in unpaid bills.

By December last year residents owed council up to $600, 000. Although council had been reluctant to disconnect water supplies to defaulters, Gwanda Town Mayor Councillor Knowledge Ndlovu is on record as saying disconnections were the last resort.

He said efforts have been made to encourage residents to settle their bills to no avail.

Affected residents in the town centre, Jacaranda Suburb and Spitzkop Medium, said water disconnections started in the town's low density suburbs last week on Friday.

Municipality officials said the disconnections targeted residents that had gone for three months or more without paying their water bills.

"Council operations have been crippled by some residents who have not been paying bills since last year. Some residents have not paid a cent since the writing off of debts in July last year prior to elections," said the official who preferred anonymity.

The official said the $3,5 million write off left the council in deep financial crisis adding that water disconnections were set to spread throughout the town to the high density areas.

However, some residents felt council was being insensitive and accused the municipality of ripping them off.

"The municipality says I should consume 20,000 litres of water per month. I doubt if their billing system is functioning well," said a resident who was at the municipality offices to seek clarity.

Another resident identified as Ncube said council officials ordered her to replace her faulty water meter and cut supplies to ensure she procures a new one.

Clr Ndlovu could not be reached for comment as he was said to be in Harare.