BCC writes off 864 bills

The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has written off bills for over 800 properties, deeming them irrecoverable due to the high cost of recovery relative to the amounts owed. The total amount written off is ZiG28,325 from 864 accounts, with individual debts ranging from ZiG0.01 to ZiG656 (US$48). The write-off follows the Credit Control and Debt Management Policy Section 115.

The local authority explained that all reasonable efforts to recover these amounts had been exhausted, and the costs of further attempts to collect the debts would outweigh the returns. Reasons for the irrecoverability include closed accounts, departed tenants, and the small size of the debts making further collection efforts impractical.

Some of the companies with written-off debts include Lobel's Biscuits (ZiG199), Foundation Technical College (ZiG129), Montgomery Gardens and Tours (ZiG123), and several others with smaller amounts.

Despite the write-offs, the BCC reported a 25% increase in overall debt from ZiG283 million to ZiG353 million. The council achieved a collection efficiency of 50.7%, with receipts from domestic ratepayers amounting to ZiG44 million (62%) and non-domestic ratepayers contributing ZiG27 million (38%).

The breakdown of the total debt is as follows: domestic debtors owe ZiG234 million (66%), industrial and commercial debtors owe ZiG91.4 million (26%), and government debtors owe ZiG27.9 million (9%).