GWERU City Council yesterday embarked on massive water disconnections for residents over unpaid bills, a year after the High Court ordered the local authority to stop such radical action.
By Stephen Chadenga
Council workers could be seen delivering water disconnection letters, particularly in high-density suburbs, over outstanding bills, with residents’ associations vowing to contest the move, which they said was “illegal”.
“I regret to inform you that the bearer has been given instructions to disconnect water supplies, as you have failed to comply with the regulations for payment of your account,” part of a disconnection letter to a resident from the council’s finance department read.
“The services will not be resumed until your account of $184,80 has been settled in full and the reconnection fee of $34,50 paid and updating of your security deposit to $30 for domestic consumers and $150 for commercial and industrial consumers.”
Last month, residents demanded itemised bills from council to get a true reflection of how much they really owed the local authority.
Gweru United Progressive Residents and Ratepayers’ Development Association Trust (Guprarda) executive director, David Chikore said they were prepared to fight council in courts should their call for itemised bills be ignored.
Acting town clerk, Edgar Mwedzi and commission chairperson, Tsunga Mhangami, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
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But in September, the local authority threatened to disconnect water, as well as instituting legal action against defaulting ratepayers.
