Gwanda residents face water disconnections over debt

The Gwanda Municipality has intensified its water disconnection exercise across the mining town as part of efforts to recover mounting unpaid bills from residents and businesses.

In an official notice issued this week, the local authority warned that continued default on payments will result in legal action, including the attachment and auctioning of properties belonging to defaulters.

"The municipality is facing extreme pressure from suppliers of materials and inputs in the provision of water and management of sewer services," reads the notice. "In particular, the electricity bills of these plants have increased to unmanageable levels owing to the continued default by debtors. Electricity disconnection notices have been served on council in this regard by the service provider."

As a result, the council said it had "no other choice" but to scale up disconnections to recover outstanding funds. The ongoing exercise is targeting both residential and commercial debtors.

The local authority also emphasized that failure to settle arrears would lead to court action. "The municipality is progressing to the next stage of legal action which shall lead to the attachment and auctioning of property owned by debtors in default," the statement added.

Gwanda residents and business owners are now being urged to clear their outstanding balances to avoid service disruptions and possible legal consequences. The move comes as councils across Zimbabwe grapple with declining revenue and increased operational costs, especially in critical service areas such as water supply and waste management.

The municipality's firm stance has sparked mixed reactions in the town, with some residents acknowledging the need for improved service delivery funding, while others called for more flexible repayment plans in light of the prevailing economic challenges.