BCC issues over 16,000 debt demand notices

The City of Bulawayo has issued more than 16 000 debt demand notices across its wards as part of an intensified campaign to recover outstanding rates and service charges, with the local authority targeting to collect over US$14,1 million, a council debt collection report has revealed.

The notices, issued in the form of final demands, 24-hour notices, disconnection warnings and phone call reminders, were distributed across both high- and low-density suburbs as council moves to boost revenue inflows amid mounting financial pressures.

According to the report, council billed US$10,3 million on 183 372 accounts in November 2025, while the opening debt as of October 31, 2025 stood at US$133 million. Through various collection efforts during the month, council managed to collect US$1 930 057.

"Collection efforts are targeted to collect the current month billing plus a portion of the arrears using available resources," the report states.

Ward 8 (Mzilikazi) recorded the highest number of notices, with 2 995 disconnection notices issued, targeting the recovery of approximately US$1,53 million. However, Ward 6 (Cowdray Park) emerged as the ward with the largest single amount targeted for recovery, after council issued 931 disconnection notices aimed at collecting US$4,32 million.

Cowdray Park also recorded an additional 62 phone call notices targeting about US$85 377, pushing the ward's total targeted recovery figure to more than US$4,4 million.

Ward 5 recorded 951 email and phone call notices, with council aiming to recover around US$3,92 million. In Ward 3 (Mahatshula), council issued 1 010 24-hour notices targeting US$174 030, as well as a further 920 disconnection notices targeting US$1,01 million.

Other wards with significant numbers of notices include Ward 20 (Nkulumane), which received 1 295 disconnection notices targeting US$754 733 and 76 phone call notices targeting US$4 368. Ward 25 (Nketa) had 1 156 disconnection notices targeting US$656 478, along with 181 phone call notices targeting US$246 751.

In Ward 11 (Emakhandeni), council issued 907 24-hour notices targeting US$594 061 and 77 phone call notices targeting US$35 337. Ward 13 (Tshabalala) recorded 789 final demand notices targeting US$481 081 and 867 disconnection notices targeting US$807 592.

In the central business district, Ward 1 (City Centre) recorded 66 final demand notices, with council targeting to recover US$195 262. Ward 9 (Mpopoma) received 60 disconnection notices targeting US$305 566, while Ward 10 (Emganwini) was served with a combined 149 notices through phone calls and 24-hour notices targeting more than US$170 000.

In total, council issued 16 108 notices across the city, with a combined targeted collection amount of US$14 141 722.

Council officials say the aggressive debt recovery drive is necessary to stabilise the city's finances and ensure the continued provision of essential services such as water supply, refuse collection and road maintenance, which have been strained by low revenue collection and rising operational costs.