News / National
Gweru cracks down on rate defaulters
3 hrs ago |
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The Gweru City Council has intensified its debt recovery campaign, disconnecting services and locking business premises in a bid to recover over ZiG$927 million in unpaid water and rates bills.
Council spokesperson Vimbai Chingwaramusee said the exercise targets both businesses and residents who have failed to settle outstanding accounts despite repeated notices.
"As a local authority, we are in the process of shutting down business premises which are in arrears as we seek to recover over ZiG$920 million owed by businesses and residents," she said.
As of February 28, the total debt stood at ZiG$927 million, prompting the local authority to escalate enforcement measures. Council teams have reportedly begun physically locking doors of defaulting business premises as part of the operation.
Chingwaramusee said the move is a last resort after exhausting all avenues of engagement.
"The businesses currently being targeted are those that have consistently ignored formal communication, refused to engage on payment plans, and accumulated significant arrears despite receiving final demand letters," she said.
According to council, the campaign is being conducted in line with existing by-laws and is designed to enforce compliance without causing damage to property.
Authorities emphasised that the exercise is non-discriminatory, covering all categories of ratepayers, including commercial entities, industrial operators, government departments, and residential consumers.
"The local authority has to implement such measures to raise funds to improve service delivery. Without these funds, essential services such as water provision and refuse collection are under threat," Chingwaramusee added.
In previous recovery efforts, council has enlisted the Messenger of Court to attach and auction property belonging to chronic defaulters.
The latest blitz reflects mounting financial pressures facing local authorities across Zimbabwe, as rising operational costs and low revenue collection continue to strain service delivery.
Council spokesperson Vimbai Chingwaramusee said the exercise targets both businesses and residents who have failed to settle outstanding accounts despite repeated notices.
"As a local authority, we are in the process of shutting down business premises which are in arrears as we seek to recover over ZiG$920 million owed by businesses and residents," she said.
As of February 28, the total debt stood at ZiG$927 million, prompting the local authority to escalate enforcement measures. Council teams have reportedly begun physically locking doors of defaulting business premises as part of the operation.
Chingwaramusee said the move is a last resort after exhausting all avenues of engagement.
According to council, the campaign is being conducted in line with existing by-laws and is designed to enforce compliance without causing damage to property.
Authorities emphasised that the exercise is non-discriminatory, covering all categories of ratepayers, including commercial entities, industrial operators, government departments, and residential consumers.
"The local authority has to implement such measures to raise funds to improve service delivery. Without these funds, essential services such as water provision and refuse collection are under threat," Chingwaramusee added.
In previous recovery efforts, council has enlisted the Messenger of Court to attach and auction property belonging to chronic defaulters.
The latest blitz reflects mounting financial pressures facing local authorities across Zimbabwe, as rising operational costs and low revenue collection continue to strain service delivery.
Source - The Chronicle
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