News / National
Gweru launches revenue collection blitz, rejects payment plans
26 May 2025 at 08:59hrs | Views
Gweru City Council has launched a revenue collection blitz that started on Monday and will run until May 23, 2025, with a firm stance against accepting payment plans during this period. The operation aims to recover outstanding debts owed to the council, some dating back as far as five years, according to the city's credit controller, Gashia Chimatira.
Speaking at a recent meeting of the Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) on Tuesday, Chimatira emphasized that the council's mandate is to collect revenue efficiently and that allowing payment plans during the blitz could create disruptions. "During the revenue blitz, we will not be offering payment plans, as this might cause commotion during the operation," he explained.
The council is focusing on residents who have consistently used council services but have failed to settle their bills over several years, accumulating significant debts. Chimatira noted the negative impact these arrears have on service delivery, particularly affecting those who have been loyal in making their payments. "We are looking for residents who owe the council high figures and use council services while making loyal, paid-up residents bear the brunt," he said.
Residents have been urged to proactively read their meters before the due date and compare their own readings with those recorded by the council to address any discrepancies that might arise in billing.
However, concerns remain among the community over growing bills and diminishing service delivery, especially regarding the limited water supply. Spiwe Nzira, a resident of Mtapa, complained that meter readers often fail to take accurate readings and frequently resort to estimating consumption, which affects billing accuracy.
In response to these concerns, GRRA executive director Cornilia Selipiwe recommended that the council decentralize meter reading responsibilities to the ward level and ensure that meter readers wear name tags for easy identification, improving transparency and accountability.
The revenue blitz forms part of the council's broader efforts to enhance revenue collection and tackle the persistent issue of unpaid bills that have long hindered effective service delivery in Gweru.
Speaking at a recent meeting of the Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) on Tuesday, Chimatira emphasized that the council's mandate is to collect revenue efficiently and that allowing payment plans during the blitz could create disruptions. "During the revenue blitz, we will not be offering payment plans, as this might cause commotion during the operation," he explained.
The council is focusing on residents who have consistently used council services but have failed to settle their bills over several years, accumulating significant debts. Chimatira noted the negative impact these arrears have on service delivery, particularly affecting those who have been loyal in making their payments. "We are looking for residents who owe the council high figures and use council services while making loyal, paid-up residents bear the brunt," he said.
Residents have been urged to proactively read their meters before the due date and compare their own readings with those recorded by the council to address any discrepancies that might arise in billing.
However, concerns remain among the community over growing bills and diminishing service delivery, especially regarding the limited water supply. Spiwe Nzira, a resident of Mtapa, complained that meter readers often fail to take accurate readings and frequently resort to estimating consumption, which affects billing accuracy.
In response to these concerns, GRRA executive director Cornilia Selipiwe recommended that the council decentralize meter reading responsibilities to the ward level and ensure that meter readers wear name tags for easy identification, improving transparency and accountability.
The revenue blitz forms part of the council's broader efforts to enhance revenue collection and tackle the persistent issue of unpaid bills that have long hindered effective service delivery in Gweru.
Source - online
