Harare City Council chokes under ZiG8 billion debt

Harare City Council is reeling under a debt of more than ZiG8 billion owed by ratepayers, a backlog that officials warn is crippling service delivery and undermining the municipality's operational efficiency.

Presenting the latest Debtor's Age Analysis Report during a briefing on central business district operations and the regularisation of informal settlements, acting Head of Revenue Alfred Guni described the arrears as "alarmingly high" and unsustainable.

"Continued non-payment undermines our ability to deliver basic services and compromises the city's efficiency," Guni said. "The City is urging all stakeholders to urgently clear their debts."

The report shows that residential property owners are the biggest defaulters, owing ZiG5 billion. The commercial sector owes ZiG1.09 billion, while industrial operators account for ZiG1.05 billion.

Government institutions and state-linked entities are also among the debtors. According to Guni, central government owes ZiG167 million, ZESA ZiG455 million, dormitory towns ZiG345 million, parastatals ZiG64 million, municipal property tenants ZiG58 million, while sundry arrears amount to ZiG31 million.

Council has vowed to take a hard line against chronic defaulters.
"Those who fail to pay risk businesses being closed or properties being attached through court orders. We cannot continue to subsidise non-payment at the expense of service delivery," Guni warned.

He cautioned that without urgent payment, the municipality will struggle to provide clean water, maintain infrastructure, and manage waste collection.

"The sustainability of the city depends on everyone playing their part. We urge all ratepayers to settle their obligations without further delay," he said.